FAMILIES who lost loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic have been denied access to crucial material given to the public inquiry into the crisis, lawyers claimed today.

Law firm Broudie Jackson Canter, which is representing the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, said that it has not been given access to former prime minister Boris Johnson’s phone messages.

The device that he used during key periods of the coronavirus pandemic is expected to contain messages relating to the ordering of three lockdowns in 2020.

The firm said that it had to make submissions to the inquiry ahead of its second module without having this information.

Lawyers representing the group have also not been given access to a witness statement from former No 10 adviser Dominic Cummings.

It comes as the second stage of the inquiry is set to begin on Tuesday.

Nicola Brook, solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter, said: “It’s been a frustrating lead up to module two.

“We have been forced to make submissions to the inquiry without having the benefit of crucial material, including a key witness statement from Mr Cummings and access to Mr Johnson’s phone messages during critical stages of the pandemic. We still await these.

“Understandably, the bereaved families are feeling like it’s one rule for the political decision-makers and one rule for them.

“Unfortunately, the bereaved will be left watching on the sidelines after all but one of our requests for 23 bereaved witnesses to give evidence in module two were refused.”

Ministers and other government officials are expected to give evidence during the second module of the inquiry, titled Core UK decision-making and political governance.

The Covid-19 Inquiry has been approached for comment.