UK Covid inquiry bill already at £85m as government hires top law firms

Figure also includes Home Office's 500,000 strategic communications' deal, with hearings due to start next year

Bills for the Covid-19 public inquiry have already hit 85m despite hearings not starting until next year, after the government hired top legal and public relations firms.

Departments making key decisions during the pandemic have hired leading law firms on multimillion-pound contracts alongside specialist firms tasked with sifting through millions of sensitive documents and emails for disclosure.