Boris Johnson's 'full and unredacted' notebooks and WhatsApp messages have been handed over

Boris Johnson's notebooks and WhatsApp messages have been handed to the Cabinet Office in their "full and unredacted" form, a spokesperson for the former prime minister has confirmed.

It comes after the chairwoman of the Covid-19 inquiry, Baroness Heather Hallett, demanded evidence including Mr Johnson’s messages, notebooks and official diaries from the pandemic. The inquiry set a deadline of 4pm on Thursday (June 1) to hand over the documents, having granted a 48-hour extension on Tuesday.

It is understood all the material requested by the inquiry has now been handed to the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office had initially claimed it did not have access to the messages and notebooks and ministers had objected to the release of “unambiguously irrelevant” material.

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Today, a spokesman for Mr Johnson said: “All Boris Johnson’s material – including WhatsApps and notebooks – requested by the Covid inquiry has been handed to the Cabinet Office in full and in unredacted form. Mr Johnson urges the Cabinet Office to urgently disclose it to the inquiry."

The statement added: “The Cabinet Office has had access to this material for several months. Mr Johnson would immediately disclose it directly to the inquiry if asked. While Mr Johnson understands the government’s position, and does not seek to contradict it, he is perfectly happy for the inquiry to have access to this material in whatever form it requires."

The spokesperson added: “Mr Johnson co-operated with the inquiry in full from the beginning of this process and continues to do so. Indeed, he established the inquiry. He looks forward to continuing to assist the inquiry