The journalist insists she gave messages to the Telegraph because of the 'overwhelming' public interest and it was not about attacking the former health secretary.
"I know I am going to get a few knocks over this [but] I am prepared to do this because I think the national interest is so utterly compelling."'Many more to come'
The lead counsel of official COVID Inquiry Hugo Keith also said they were already aware of the WhatsApps, having received messages from over 60 groups across Whitehall - including from government departments, individual ministers and civil servants, scientists and special advisers - after requesting their disclosure last September.
The Information Commissioner's Office said it was not launching an investigation into the huge leak"at this stage", citing journalistic exemptions in the public interest.Earlier, the allegations were raised multiple times in the Commons, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer saying families whose loved ones died of COVID would view the leaked messages as an"insulting and ghoulish spectacle".
Mr Sunak insisted the official inquiry was the"right way" to investigate the government's handling of the pandemic rather than relying on"piecemeal bits of information".
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