The Government has been accused of a cover-up after it refused to hand over ministers’ full WhatsApps to the Covid inquiry.

Baroness Hallett, the chairman of the inquiry, had demanded that the Government provide Boris Johnson’s messages and those of a key aide by 4pm on Tuesday.

The Cabinet Office initially refused, saying it could not hand over irrelevant messages, before claiming just hours before the deadline it did not in fact have Mr Johnson’s WhatsApps.

On Tuesday, it emerged that the Government’s top lawyer also told the Cabinet Office not to hand over any “politically sensitive” details of discussions between ministers over policy during the pandemic.

The row has led to accusations of a cover-up, amid fears the inquiry will be unable to get to the truth of the Government’s decisions and failings during the pandemic.

“It now appears that vital evidence has gone missing,” said Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader. 

“It must be found and handed over as requested if the whiff of a cover-up is to be avoided and bereaved families are to get the answers they deserve.”