Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email

       Please enter a valid email address

       Please enter a valid email address

       SIGN UP

       I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

       Thanks for signing up to the

       View from Westminster email

       {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

       The Covid inquiry is continuing for a fourth week as a court is expected to rule on the inquiry chairwoman's request for Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages, notebooks and diaries on Thursday, 6 July.

       The Cabinet Office has refused to hand over the former prime minister's documents, claiming that such a request was "so broad" that it was "bound to catch" a large amount of irrelevant material.

       High Court judges are expected to hand down their decision on of Baroness Heather Hallett’s order at 2.30pm today.

       Mr Johnson gave his unredacted WhatsApp messages, diaries and 24 notebooks to the Cabinet Office in late May.

       The former MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip has backed Lady Hallett, who rejected the argument that the material was irrelevant in a May ruling, in opposing the legal challenge over the request.

       Recommended Rishi Sunak to meet King Charles as Truss defends her record - live Johnson was ‘begging people for votes’ in a ‘demeaning’ way, says IDS Welcome, PM Sunak – the last best option to take over from Truss

       Today, the inquiry will hear evidence from Dr Denis McMahon, Permanent Secretary of the Executive Office of Northern Ireland, Reg Kilpatrick, Director of Local Government Department between 2011 and 2020 and now Director General of Covid Recovery and Local Government in the Welsh government, and Robin Swann, former Minister of Health in Northern Ireland between 2020 and 2022.

       More about Covid inquiry Boris Johnson Cabinet Office Independent Live Streams

       Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

       Comments

       1/ 1Covid Inquiry continues as court to rule on Johnson’s WhatsApps

       Covid Inquiry continues as court to rule on Johnson’s WhatsApps

       GBRETA？A-BORIS JOHNSON

       AP

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in