Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Covid Inquiry head making ‘no comment’ on legal row over Johnson messages

Baroness Hallett told a preliminary inquiry hearing that she would not speak about the judicial review proceedings launched by ministers.

Dominic McGrath
Tuesday 06 June 2023 06:11 EDT
Covid-19 Inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett said at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday that she will be making ‘no further comment’ on the legal challenge to her request for Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages due to ‘pending’ litigation (Andrew Boyers/PA)
Covid-19 Inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett said at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday that she will be making ‘no further comment’ on the legal challenge to her request for Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages due to ‘pending’ litigation (Andrew Boyers/PA) (PA Wire)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The chairwoman of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has said she will not be commenting on the legal row with the Cabinet Office, in her first public remarks since ministers launched judicial review proceedings against the probe.

Baroness Heather Hallett said at a preliminary inquiry hearing on Tuesday that she will be making “no further comment” on the legal challenge to her request for Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages due to “pending” litigation.

The retired senior judge’s deadline for the UK Government to hand over the former prime minister’s WhatsApp messages and notebooks in an unredacted format was missed by the Cabinet Office last week, with ministers instead announcing plans to challenge the request in the courts.

Ministers have defended the highly unusual move, citing concerns over material that is “unambiguously irrelevant”, despite doubts by some legal experts over whether they are likely to win the case.

During Tuesday’s preliminary hearing, Lady Hallett is due to focus on Module 2 of the inquiry, which will look into core political and administrative decision making by the UK Government.

Preliminary hearings will consider how the investigation should be run rather than taking evidence.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in