Downing Street insiders fear Dominic Cummings could publish WhatsApp messages that are at the hear of the government s who-said-what row over lockdown.
Former chief adviser Cummings is locked in an explosive war of words with Boris Johnson after Downing Street accused him of a string of leaks - including claims about the PM s £58,000 flat makeover.
Cummings reportedly left Downing Street with a treasure trove of damaging information about the government and advisers now fear he will release tell-all WhatsApp messages if he is criticised too heavily.
The messages are said to contain information on the government s lockdown strategy and allies of Cummings have claimed he also has audio recordings to hand.
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Ministers desperately tried to shore up Boris Johnson today as opposition MPs branded him a serial liar over the £88,000 Downing Street flat refurb and bodies piling up comment.
Mr Johnson is facing a gruelling PMQs appearance with Sir Keir Starmer set to turn up the heat after a slew of revelations and a briefing war with former aide Dominic Cummings.
Scrutiny over the overhaul of the flat above No11 where Mr Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds and son Wilf live has refused to abate despite the government s efforts to draw a line under the issue.
Downing Street has declined to deny that Tory funds were used to cover £58,000 of the costs - on top of the £30,000 annual allowance given by the taxpayer.
Elections watchdog launches probe into offences over No11 flat dailymail.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailymail.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Boris Johnson is facing fresh pressure on his No11 flat refurbishment including a stormy PMQs showdown
The elections watchdog has launched a formal investigation into funding of No11 flat refurbishment
Opposition MPs have stepped up their attack over whether Tories paid £58,000 without declaring the gift
The premier is also struggling to fend off claims that he made crass comments about letting Covid rip
Like many of the most explosive political bombshells, the Downing Street flat scandal had a long fuse.
It was fourteen months ago – back in February 2020 – that officials first became alarmed by renovations to the No 11 flat.
They had good reason not to pay too much attention to decorators who had been at work there since the New Year. A dozen or so cases of Covid had been reported in Britain, and the possibility that it could endanger the UK was starting to be taken seriously by some Downing Street officials.
It was fourteen months ago – back in February 2020 – that officials first became alarmed by renovations to the No 11 flat. Pictured: Lulu Lytle s collection