Why the row about Boris Johnson's Covid WhatsApp messages matters, writes BBC's Nick Eardley
They cover the period of the pandemic when he was prime minister and making key decisions.The government disagrees - and speaking to people close to the process, I don't think they're going to back down.They argue that they need to protect the privacy of ministers and others. They say they will not send information that is "unambiguously irrelevant" to the inquiry.
If it loses, that would be an embarrassing defeat. Questions would be asked about using public money to fight the case.Will bereaved families who have demanded full transparency accept it? Where would such a ruling leave inquiry chair Lady Hallet, who has made her position clear? Cabinet minister Mel Stride earlier questioned the need for "irrelevant" documents to be provided to the inquiry - saying it would not add value.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government would be "robust and open and candid" in its dealings with the inquiry.He added: "It seems to me to request lots and lots of that kind of data is not something which is adding any value". The government now has until 16:00 BST on Thursday to cooperate with the inquiry - or produce documents showing why it can't.But this row could drag on for a lot longer.
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