Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy noticeAt least four ministers used private email addresses for official business, the government has admitted - but they have refused to search them. As well as Matt Hancock and health minister Lord Bethell - government lawyers said trade minister Greg Hands and the PPE Tsar, Lord Deighton used private accounts. But they refused a request to search the accounts as part of a High Court legal challenge, saying it would be "neither necessary nor proportionate". Cabinet Office guidance states ministers may use private e-mail addresses but should “take steps” to make any government business accessible - such as by copying it to an official address. But we won’t back down.”Separately, Ministers face a formal probe from the Information Commissioner over the use of private emails.

Source: Daily Mirror July 23, 2021 12:35 UTC