Ministers and Whitehall officials have until 4pm tomorrow to hand over WhatsApp messages - including from Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson - to the Covid-19 inquiry.
The Government was set the crunch deadline by probe chairwoman Baroness Hallett.
Insiders admit they fear setting a precedent by surrendering the texts - which could reveal behind-the-scenes infighting and distractions at the height of the pandemic.