"GOVERNMENT by WhatsApp" is secretive and irrational and preventing scrutiny, a Dorset MP has said.

Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope’s remarks in the House of Commons follow the high-profile and unauthorised disclosure of WhatsApp messages sent between ministers and officials during the height of the coronavirus crisis.

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt insisted WhatsApp messages have and are being captured as part of the Covid-19 inquiry.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock passed his messages to journalist Isabel Oakeshott who used them to help him write a pandemic memoir, but she subsequently gave them to the Daily Telegraph, which has published a series of stories based on their contents.

Sir Christopher, who has been critical of government restrictions used during the height of the pandemic in the UK, raised concerns at a session of questions related to the business of the ouse.

The former Conservative minister said: “Can we have an early debate in Government time on how this house can continue to hold the government to account and scrutinise its actions when we seem to be in an era of government by WhatsApp which is secretive, irrational, and it’s denying us our opportunity to be able to hold it to account on an evidence basis?”

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt responded: “I would first point out that it’s a good week to say that WhatsApp is secretive.

“I think we have… it’s deeply regrettable I think, and I would just hope that on such serious matters as the Covid inquiry that the Westminster bubble can rise to the challenge of dealing with this in the manner that it deserves to be approached.

“He will know that the Cabinet Office have very clear policies about WhatsApp messages, what can be decided, how those things are captured and stored.

“And my understanding is for the Covid inquiry that people’s WhatsApp messages have been captured and are being captured for that inquiry.”