Boris Johnson is told legal advice funding would stop if he hinders Covid inquiry

Cabinet Office lawyers warn ex-PM of consequences if he tries to frustrate or undermine' government position

Boris Johnson has been warned that he could lose public funding for legal advice if he tries to frustrate or undermine" the government's position on the Covid-19 inquiry.

Cabinet Office lawyers told the former prime minister that money would cease to be available" if he breaks conditions such as releasing evidence without permission, the Sunday Times reported.

Johnson has been at the centre of a row as ministers launched a high court bid to challenge the inquiry's demand for his unredacted WhatsApp messages and contemporaneous notebooks.