UK government given more time to hand over messages to COVID inquiry

30/5/2023 19:01

        British ministers have been given more time to hand over unredacted messages from former prime minister Boris Johnson to a public inquiry looking into
        the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, in a stand-off that could lead to criminal sanctions.
        
        The government ordered an inquiry in 2021 to look into the preparedness of the country as well as the public health and economic response after Britain recorded one of the world's highest total number of deaths from COVID-19.
        
        The inquiry, chaired by former judge Heather Hallett, has given the government two more days until Thursday afternoon to hand over Johnson's WhatsApp messages and diaries as part of its investigation into the handling of the crisis.
        
        The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for overseeing the operation of government, has refused to hand over some of the messages and records on the basis that they are not related to the pandemic.