Downing Street has denied accusations of a cover-up over the discharge of Boris Johnson’s messages to the official Covid inquiry.

Meanwhile, officers probing the response to the pandemic will keep away from coping with two controversial subjects – care properties and procurement – till after the subsequent election.

Ministers have been given two extra days handy over unredacted Covid materials from WhatsApp messages, diaries and notebooks from former prime minister Mr Johnson to the inquiry after refusing to satisfy a deadline of 4pm at this time.

The Cabinet Office has till 4pm on Thursday to cross on the fabric regardless of requesting an extension till Monday.

The inquiry warned failing to launch it will be a felony offence.

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Lord Kerslake, former head of the Civil Service, stated: “There’s some cover-up going on here to save embarrassment of ministers, but there’s also the Cabinet Office fighting for a principle of confidentiality.

“I have to say I think they’re misguided on this situation. I actually think it would set a helpful precedent if Lady Hallett prevailed in this fight about the information.”

Covid-19 inquiry chair Baroness Hallett has demanded a witness assertion from a senior civil servant accompanied by an announcement of fact confirming the paperwork aren't held if the Cabinet Office fails to provide them by the brand new deadline.

A Cabinet Office spokesman stated: “We are firmly of the view that the [Covid-19] inquiry does not have the power to request unambiguously irrelevant information that is beyond the scope of this investigation.

“This includes the WhatsApp messages of government employees which are not about work but instead are entirely personal and relate to their private lives.”

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman denied the allegation of a cover-up. He stated: “We want to learn the lessons about the actions of the state during the pandemic.”

Rishi Sunak insisted the Government was performing “in a spirit of transparency and candour”. He added: “The Government has co-operated with the inquiry; tens of thousands of documents have been handed over.”

A spokesman for Mr Johnson stated he had “no objection to disclosing the material to the inquiry”.

The former PM is amongst those that will give proof to the inquiry, which is about to begin hearings in two weeks.

The inquiry at this time introduced that the general public proof hearings scrutinising the Government procurement will likely be heard in early 2025, whereas the periods for care properties aren't as a consequence of happen till spring 2025.