Sunak ‘blocking launch of WhatsApps as they might reveal plot towards Boris’

Rishi Sunak has been accused of blocking the discharge of Boris Johnson‘s WhatsApps as they might reveal a plot to deliver him down.

Allies of the previous prime minister declare the messages demanded by the Covid inquiry might present the then-Chancellor was transferring to oust his boss, who was compelled out of Downing Street final yr.

One informed the Mail on Sunday: “What is Rishi hiding? Is it plotting against Boris with Dominic Cummings?”

But Mr Sunak’s allies dismissed the claims as “total nonsense.”

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick additionally denied there are fears in No 10 the Prime Minister’s messages might present a plot towards Mr Johnson.

READ MORE: Minister admits Government likely to lose extraordinary legal battle

Mr Jenrick informed Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “No, as I say, the issue here is a simple legal one.”

The row comes because the Cabinet Office is gearing up for a authorized showdown with the Covid inquiry over its request for Mr Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApps and notebooks.

The Government division has been making an attempt to withstand the publication of messages it argues are “unambiguously irrelevant”.

After the Government launched its authorized battle, Mr Johnson wrote to the inquiry’s chairwoman, Baroness Hallett, saying he was sending all of the unredacted WhatsApps he had given to the Cabinet Office.

He mentioned he want to do the identical for the messages earlier than May 2021 on an outdated cellphone he was informed to not use after it emerged the quantity had been out there on-line for 15 years.

Mr Johnson informed the chairwoman he was “not willing to let my material become a test case for others when I am perfectly content for the inquiry to see it”. 

But Cabinet Office attorneys have written to Mr Johnson warning he might lose public funding for authorized recommendation if if he tries to “frustrate or undermine” the Government’s place on the inquiry.

The letter mentioned: “The funding offer will cease to be available to you if you knowingly seek to frustrate or undermine, either through your own actions or the actions of others, the Government’s position in relation to the inquiry unless there is a clear and irreconcilable conflict of interest on a particular point at issue.”

They added that funding would “only remain available” if he complied with situations akin to sending the Cabinet Office “any witness statement or exhibit which you intend to provide to the inquiry so that it can be security checked by appropriate officials”.

Former tradition secretary Nadine Dorries, a die-hard ally of Mr Johnson, mentioned it was “not a good look for the Government”.

Tory donor Lord Cruddas, one other backer of Mr Johnson, urged the MP to not be “held to ransom” by the risk.

He mentioned: “Don’t worry Boris Johnson I can easily get your legal fees funded by supporters and crowdfunding, it’s easy.”

Downing Street has been contacted for remark.