Deadline looms for Rishi Sunak over Boris Johnson Covid WhatsApp row – UK politics live | Politics

Labour has suspended MP Geraint Davies pending an investigation into reports of “incredibly serious allegations of completely unacceptable behaviour”.

The decision to administratively suspend the Swansea West MP means he will have the whip removed in Westminster while a review is carried out.

It follows claims against the veteran politician, which were reported by the website Politico.

A Labour spokesperson said:

These are incredibly serious allegations of completely unacceptable behaviour.

We strongly encourage anyone with a complaint to come forward to the Labour party’s investigation.

Any complainant will have access to an independent support service who provide confidential and independent guidance and advice from external experts throughout the process.

Good morning and welcome to the UK politics live blog. We begin with news that Rishi Sunak’s government could face a legal battle with the Covid public inquiry unless it backs down over a demand to disclose Boris Johnson’s private messages and papers.

The Cabinet Office has been given until 4pm today to hand over diaries, notebooks and a trove of WhatsApp messages or face the threat of a criminal prosecution, PA reported.

The government had argued that it did not have the messages and notebooks, but Johnson has handed them over to officials and said they should be disclosed – putting the Cabinet Office in a difficult position.

The Cabinet Office has also argued that it should withhold “unambiguously irrelevant” material, but inquiry chairwoman Lady Hallett has ruled that everything should be disclosed and she will decide what is or is not necessary for her work.

Johnson’s decision to publicly confirm he has handed over the material – stripping the Cabinet Office of one of its defences – and his suggestion that it should be disclosed to the inquiry has heaped pressure on his successor’s government.

Johnson’s spokesperson said on Wednesday:

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 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.

More on this throughout the day, of course.