Boris Johnson’s former aide Dominic Cummings has denied being the source of the prime minister’s leaked text communications with businessman Sir James Dyson.
Several newspapers quoted unnamed Downing Street sources as claiming Mr Cummings had leaked the text messages, first reported by the BBC.
In a blog post, Mr Cummings said: “I do have some WhatsApp messages between the PM/Dyson forwarded to me by the PM.
“I have not found the ones that were leaked to Laura Kuenssberg on my phone nor am I aware of being sent them last year. I was not directly or indirectly a/the source for the BBC/Kuenssberg story on the PM/Dyson texts.”
He said he is “happy to meet with the Cabinet Secretary” and to have his phone searched.