Sunak accused of trying to cover up ministers’ actions during pandemic

Two sources said the Cabinet Office was resisting handing over material from Johnson and his aide because they fear unredacted evidence from Sunak himself will then have to be submitted. Photograph: Tejas Sandhu/Sopa Images/Shutterstock

Rishi Sunak has been accused of attempting to cover up the actions of ministers during the pandemic as the Cabinet Office intensified its battle to withhold Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages from the Covid inquiry.

The prime minister insisted his government has been cooperating with the investigation but is facing increasing calls from experts and MPs – with some coming from within his own party – to hand over evidence without redactions.