Helicopters which could have lifted it were in fact available, I understand. The people running the operation decided that wasn't the best option from the point of the whale.

I can't imagine the authorities in this instance refusing to cooperate with the rescue effort, even if they wished to. The political cost when it came out would have been too great. After all, this is England. You might survive lying to Parliement or starting an illegal war, but there are limits to what you can get away with here.