Covid inquiry heads for row with government over Google Spaces redactions

Lawyer says not providing complete set of messages on platform would be ‘wrong in principle’

A fresh battle over unredacted Covid documents is looming, as the public inquiry’s most senior lawyer voiced fears about a tussle with the government over messages sent on the Google Spaces platform.

Hugo Keith KC said the “same issue” threatened to arise as with WhatsApps, which the Cabinet Office is refusing to hand over in full.