Matt Hancock

Former health secretary dismisses 'partial, agenda-driven leak' amid fresh scrutiny of key decisions to protect care homes.

This is critical, because Matt was supportive of Chris Whitty’s advice, held a meeting on its deliverability, told it wasn’t deliverable, and insisted on testing all those who came from hospitals.” Oakeshott has been highly critical of the U.K. Labour’s Liz Kendall said to get to the truth there was a need for “more humility and less celebrity” from Hancock, who recently finished third in reality show I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. But Junior Health Minister Helen Whately — who features in some of the leaked texts — came out to bat for Hancock in the Commons Wednesday, arguing that the messages give a “misleading” impression of what went on in 2020. [internal government conversations](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/01/nicola-sturgeon-boris-johnson-school-face-mask-row-whatsapp/) about face masks in schools and decisions on “shielding” [ the over-65s](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/01/boris-johnson-65s-choice-covid-shielding-whatsapp-messages/). Hancock’s spokesperson accused the paper of “a partial, agenda-driven leak of confidential documents” and said in a statement: “The Telegraph intentionally excluded reference to a meeting with the testing team from the WhatsApp.

Texts sent at height of pandemic suggest former health secretary rejected advice on testing in care homes.

The rule limited the number of people who could gather in one place and was criticised by the children’s commissioner at the time. Oakeshott was given copies of the texts while helping Hancock write his own book, Pandemic Diaries. Guidance stating that tests should be carried out for everyone entering care homes was not introduced until 14 August 2020. Hancock “enthusiastically accepted” the advice from Whitty, the spokesperson said, but “later that day he convened an operational meeting on delivering testing for care homes where he was advised it was not currently possible to test everyone entering care homes, which he also accepted”. Hancock said he would rather “leave out” a commitment to test everyone entering care homes from the community and “just commit to test & isolate ALL going into care from hospital”. Hancock said the advice represented a “good positive step” and that “we must put into the doc”, to which an aide responded that he had sent the request “to action”.

The then health secretary expressed concerns that expanding care home testing could get in the way of the 100000 daily COVID test target, according to a ...

What the messages do show is a lot of people working hard to save lives." Get Me Out Of Here!, has already said he will stand down at the next general election. He denies the central claim, that he ignored the advice of Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, to test everyone going into care homes. Care home deaths are widely regarded as one of the biggest scandals of the pandemic response. All those implicated will need to get their arguments ready. Hancock's spokesman is claiming she breached a non-disclosure agreement. "That is why the COVID inquiry is so important, so we have the right preparations in place to meet future threats and challenges." "The Telegraph intentionally excluded reference to a meeting with the testing team from the WhatsApp." Mr Hancock is considering legal action against the Telegraph as his spokesman said claims he rejected clinical advice on care home testing was "flat wrong" because he was told it was "not currently possible" to carry out the tests due to a lack of capacity. [The pandemic year: A timeline of how the COVID outbreak unfolded](https://news.sky.com/story/covid-crisis-the-pandemic-year-and-what-was-happening-behind-the-scenes-12212602) [What it was like in a care home in April 2020](https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-what-it-was-really-like-in-care-homes-as-govt-found-guilty-of-breaking-law-during-early-stages-of-pandemic-12600323) [Former health secretary Matt Hancock will not stand at next election](https://news.sky.com/story/former-health-secretary-matt-hancock-will-not-stand-at-next-election-12763450) He also expressed concerns that expanding care home testing could "get in the way" of the 100,000 daily test target he wanted to hit, the investigation said. The then health secretary expressed concerns that expanding care home testing could get in the way of the 100,000 daily COVID test target, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph, based on messages handed to the paper by the politician's ghost writer Isabel Oakeshott.

Ex-Tory health secretary rejects 'distorted account' based on 100000 WhatsApp messages.

That is why the Covid inquiry is so important.” Sir Keir Starmer attacked Mr Hancock for “portraying himself as a hero” in his memoir. What the messages do show is a lot of people working hard to save lives.” Mr Hancock described it as “obviously a good positive step”. Sources said they were “baffled” by the suggestion that the messages were doctored. This is critical, because Matt was supportive of Chris Whitty’s advice, held a meeting on its deliverability, told it wasn’t deliverable, and insisted on testing all those who came from hospitals.”

Matt Hancock has denied claims he ignored expert advice on care home testing during the coronavirus pandemic after leaked WhatsApp messages were published.

By omitting this, the messages imply Matt simply overruled clinical advice. [Covid-19 inquiry](https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/terms-of-reference/) is examining the UK’s preparedness for and response to the pandemic. [Writing in the Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/28/isabel-oakeshott-why-matt-hancocks-covid-whatsapps-should-public/), Oakeshott said the inquiry may take “many years” before coming to any conclusions and claimed “the whole thing may become a colossal whitewash”. [MP](https://www.cityam.com/matt-hancock-leaves-matt-hancock-app-and-tells-followers-they-can-find-him-on-tiktok/) hit back at the newspaper’s story, calling it a “distorted account” that has been “spun to fit an anti-lockdown agenda”. [published by the newspaper](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/28/lockdown-files-matt-hancock-whatsapp-whitty-care-homes-covid/) appear to reveal Hancock rejected the guidance, suggesting it “muddies the waters” and introduced mandatory testing for hospital leavers. The

Ex-health secretary battling over claims from 100000 WhatsApp messages.

Sir Keir Starmer used PMQs to attack Mr Hancock for “portraying himself as a hero” in his memoir. The leaked messages show Mr Obsorne was critical of the testing regime. We now have the biggest testing capacity in Europe.” [Boris Johnson](/topic/boris-johnson) sent Mr Hancock messages in June 2020 about his frustrations over the failure to expand testing quickly enough. What the messages do show is a lot of people working hard to save lives.” But he later messages his aide: “Tell me if I’m wrong but I would rather leave it out and just commit to test & isolate ALL going into care from hospital.

Matt Hancock rejected the Chief Medical Officer's advice to test all residents going to English care homes for Covid, messages leaked to The Telegraph ...

He continued: “The story spun on care homes is completely wrong. What the messages do show is a lot of people working hard to save lives,” the spokesman said. If that disease were in humans, of course we’d want to lockdown.” However, the investigation said he later responded to an aide: “Tell me if I’m wrong but I would rather leave it out and just commit to test & isolate ALL going into care from hospital. Her behaviour is outrageous.” The spokesman for Mr Hancock said “the Telegraph story is wrong”, arguing that “instead of spinning and leaks we need the full, comprehensive inquiry”.

Claims have been made against the former health secretary Matt Hancock in that he allegedly rejected advice to give coronavirus tests to all residents going ...

[Mr Hancock](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23344516.ant-dec-reveal-felt-matt-hancock-itv-celeb/) is battling these claims and vehemently denies overruling clinical advice. [Matt Hancoc](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23347520.matt-hancock-launches-tv-company-itv-celeb-appearance/)k's spokesman said that the [former health secretary](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23347520.matt-hancock-launches-tv-company-itv-celeb-appearance/) “enthusiastically accepted” the advice from Sir Chris on April 14. [Prime Minister Rishi Sunak](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23318249.rishi-sunak-spotted-getting-doughnuts-darlington/) took a different route, backing an official Covid inquiry as the “right way” to scrutinise the handling of the pandemic. [Matt](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23347520.matt-hancock-launches-tv-company-itv-celeb-appearance/) concluded that the testing of people leaving hospital for care homes should be prioritised because of the higher risks of transmission, as it wasn’t possible to mandate everyone going into care homes got tested.” [Mr Hancock](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23347520.matt-hancock-launches-tv-company-itv-celeb-appearance/) described it as “obviously a good positive step” in the messages. “Rather than comment on piecemeal bits of information […] the right way for this to be looked at is the Covid inquiry. [Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/23349314.starmer-migration-not-answer-problems/) said: "Families across the country will look at this, and the sight of politicians writing books portraying themselves as heroes, or selectively leaking messages, will be an insulting and ghoulish spectacle for them. [Mr Hancock](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23347520.matt-hancock-launches-tv-company-itv-celeb-appearance/) ultimately rejected the guidance, telling an aide the move just “muddies the waters”, and introduced mandatory testing only for those coming from hospitals rather than the community. [Mr Hancock](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23347520.matt-hancock-launches-tv-company-itv-celeb-appearance/) while she worked on his Pandemic Diaries memoir. Declining to comment directly on the leaks, a Government spokesman said: “We have always said there are lessons to be learnt from the pandemic. [Mr Hancock](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23344516.ant-dec-reveal-felt-matt-hancock-itv-celeb/) said: “These stolen messages have been doctored to create a false story that Matt rejected clinical advice on care home testing. [Daily Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/28/lockdown-files-matt-hancock-whatsapp-whitty-care-homes-covid/) giving an insight into the way the government operated at the height of the Covid-19 crisis.

The former health secretary's actions during the pandemic have come under fresh scrutiny following the leak of over 100000 WhatsApp messages.

A spokesman for Mr Hancock said: “On April 14th Matt received a response to his request for advice from the Chief Medical Officer’s that testing was needed for people going into care homes, which he enthusiastically accepted. Later that day he convened an operational meeting on delivering testing for care homes where he was advised it was not currently possible to test everyone entering care homes, which he also accepted. and will step down as an MP at the next election. However, it was far from clear this morning whether Mr Hancock had limited testing for care homes against the advice of Sir Chris. I do not think the community commitment adds anything and it muddies the waters.” Tell me if I’m wrong but I would rather leave it out and just commit to test & amp; isolate ALL going into care from hospital.

The 48-year-old has long held conflicted feelings towards Hancock. Here's how she went from helping him with his book to airing his dirty laundry.

Hancock’s team are furious, and the claim that Oakenshott failed to approach Hancock for comment doubles down on the betrayal. She has defended her decision on the basis of helping the current public enquiry into the UK’s preparedness, said the texts are “vital historical records”, and has called for “urgent answers”. I wanted to get to the truth. In fact, she claims that she ‘passed’ on breaking his bombshell affair with Gina Colandangelo because the images ‘looked like they might have been doctored’ — and perhaps that forged a little fondness, because the two appeared to be quite close by the time they worked together on his book. Oakeshott stayed close to Westminster, working as The Daily Mail’s political editor-at-large and as a panellist on the BBC’s Daily Politics show. “He did ask me what I thought and whether I thought it was a good idea,” she said over Zoom. This change in allegiance, she says, is because “a great deal of material that is overwhelmingly in the public interest and pertinent to the public inquiry was suppressed” from being published in the book. Cameron later called the story “false and ludicrous.” Oakeshott, 48, was born in Westminster, raised in Scotland and educated at the University of Bristol. Texts which she had access to as a result of assisting Hancock with his book, and which paint Hancock in a rather unfavourable light. She collected the award for Political Journalist of the Year at the 2011 Press Awards and was This is especially true of memoirs released with an eyebrow-raising proximity to the events it depicts: speed is essential, and someone needs to help collate notes and evidence.

Ex-minister's judgment questioned for trusting journalist who has long made clear her disdain for his lockdown policies.

Some Tories also expressed surprise that Hancock entrusted his records to Oakeshott, given she is in a long-term relationship with Richard Tice, the leader of the Reform party. Darroch was forced to resign on the basis that his position had become untenable as a result of the leaks. He passed the story to Oakeshott and kept his name off it to avoid “possible controversy”. One theory as to why she leaked Hancock’s messages is that her decision to co-write his book was causing problems for her as a rightwing pundit in the so-called culture wars. Just three months ago she was proudly promoting the book, appearing at its launch and writing Despite extensive research, Call Me Dave failed to get close to Cameron’s inner circle and is mainly remembered for its allegation that the prime minister engaged in sexual congress with a dead pig at a decadent university party. A judge agreed with Starmer’s request and – rather than protect their source – the Sunday Times and Oakeshott complied with the order. She insisted she did not always plan to publish Hancock’s WhatsApps but decided to leak them “when it became clear the public inquiry had no deadline and will likely take a decade or more to conclude”. Two years later, having sat on the messages, she Oakeshott said she is only employed by TalkTV on a freelance basis and is therefore able to work for other publications. The Crown Prosecution Service – led by the future Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer – requested the correspondence between Oakeshott and Pryce. Pryce mentioned that she had once taken speeding points on behalf of Huhne.

Helen Whately defends ex-colleague while answering urgent question in Commons after leak of messages.

This story categorically shows that the right place for this analysis of what happened in the pandemic is in the inquiry.” “Later that day he convened an operational meeting on delivering testing for care homes where he was advised it was not currently possible to test everyone entering care homes, which he also accepted. On 14 April, Matt received a response to his request for advice from the chief medical officer that testing was needed for people going into care homes, which he enthusiastically accepted. A spokesperson for Hancock said: “These stolen messages have been doctored to create a false story that Matt rejected clinical advice on care home testing. Starmer called for the inquiry to be completed by the end of this year. Helen Whately, the care minister, claimed “selective snippets” of leaked WhatsApp messages were misleading.

Political journalist at cente of storm over claims Matt Hancock rejected scientific advice to Covid test people going into care homes during the pandemic.

“They are completely unnecessary symbols of fear and repression.” Oakeshott says she is interested in defence, the state of the health service and “the true cost of cheap meat”. It was in 2010, during her stint at the Times, that Oakeshott broke the Huhne story that led to his dismissal from the government and jail sentences for him and his ex-wife Pryce. An award-winning journalist, she started her career on local and regional newspapers in Scotland, before moving to England and eventually working her way up to being the politics editor of The Sunday Times and the Daily Mail’s political editor at large - a post she held until February 2016. The communications were leaked to The Telegraph by Oakeshott after she collaborated with Hancock for his controversial Pandemic Diaries memoir, which was published in December last year ahead of a public inquiry into the government’s response to the pandemic. But she denied failing in her duty of care to Pryce for publishing the story which ultimately led to her - and her former husband - being jailed.

'I think you can easily surmise whether Matt Hancock is my friend at this point,' says Isabel Oakeshott.

I think the public interest is overwhelming.” [Rishi Sunak](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/rishi-sunak) insisted the official inquiry was the right way to investigate the [government](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/government)’s handling of the pandemic rather than “piecemeal bits of information”. A source close to the former health secretary said it was outrageous that she had broken a non-disclosure agreement to pass on the messages. [Ms Oakeshott](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/isabel-oakeshott-matt-hancock-lockdown-files-b2291903.html) said on Wednesday night: “I received a somewhat menacing message at 1.20 in the morning. A spokesperson for the former minister insisted the messages had been “doctored” and “spun to fit an anti-lockdown agenda”, and said it was “flat wrong” to say Mr Hancock had rejected such advice. [war of words erupted](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/matt-hancock-covid-whatsapp-lockdown-b2292292.html) after their publication, as the former minister [denied rejecting the advice](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/matt-hancock-leaked-covid-messages-b2291948.html) and in doing so leaving vulnerable residents at risk of catching the virus.

Allies of the former health secretary insist he was not naive to send all of his WhatsApp messages to the journalist, a vehement lockdown critic.

“Matt wanted Isabel to write his book because he knew she was from the lockdown-sceptic side. “The messages were freely given to Isabel by him. She’s not a very good friend.” He believed he had nothing to hide from his time during the pandemic, and that by giving the messages to Isabel, he would be able to say he was confident in his position,” the source said. However, she confirmed to i that she worked on Mr Hancock’s book, published by Ashcroft’s Biteback firm, for no fee. It really isn’t about the money for Isabel. “These WhatsApp messages provide far quicker information about what was really being said and done by those in charge of the response. She is certain publication is the right thing to do,” a friend said. Their release is overwhelmingly in the public interest.” “As a prominent critic of the pandemic, I wanted to get as close as I could to the truth about the way decisions were made that affected all our lives.” This is flat wrong.” [Isabel Oakeshott](https://inews.co.uk/opinion/isabel-oakeshotts-betrayal-of-matt-hancock-is-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-trust-in-the-media-2179988?ico=in-line_link) rejected claims that she broke a legal agreement with [Matt Hancock](https://inews.co.uk/news/matt-hancock-whatsapps-grandmother-died-care-home-covid-2180196?ico=in-line_link) by leaking his “stolen” messages, claiming she was acting in the national interest.

If we really want to be angry at something, and we do, shouldn't we also direct our indignation at another government?

It was China – or the CCP, to be more precise. China has stubbornly declined to be in any way transparent about the early spread of the virus and blocked international attempts to unearth the truth. That should be our strength and their weakness, not the other way around. Anybody paying any attention knew about the ‘gain of function’ research at the Institute of Virology in Wuhan by the end of February 2020, even though such talk was not allowed in mainstream publications and on most airwaves, such was the climate of fear around Covid, for many months. The Biden administration is willing to make tough noises towards China, especially over the defence of Taiwan, but when it comes to perhaps the greatest scandal of the last century, there’s a curious lack of urgency. The US Ambassador to China yesterday called on Beijing to ‘be more honest’ about the origins of Covid.

WhatsApp leaks reveal how then health secretary and his advisers mocked Gavin Williamson in private for 'freaking out'

He complained to Mr Rosenfield that the “DfE now rowing back on all the things Gavin floated in the meeting - and my spirit of communal love and compromise is somewhat stretched”. [Gold command meetings were weekly meetings chaired by Mr Hancock](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/10/06/cabinet-split-tougher-covid-lockdown-measures/) to identify Covid hotspots and areas for intervention. It was not the first time that Mr Hancock had mocked Sir Gavin. They appear to have agreed on a strategy for the staggered return of university students, but once again Sir Gavin is insisting that schools remain open. As the meeting ended, Mr Hancock apparently began his fight for “rearguard action” by turning immediately to [In an article for The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/01/maybe-should-have-resigned-when-plea-put-children-first-ignored/), Sir Gavin reveals that he considered quitting his post over the decision to close schools. Despite ministers including Matt Hancock saying that they were doing all they could to keep schools open, behind the scenes the then health secretary was running a “rearguard action” to keep pupils at home. During the Zoom call, as Sir Gavin fought to keep schools open, Mr Hancock and his special adviser Emma Dean sent one another messages seemingly commentating on the video call’s events. On Wednesday night, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We have always said there are lessons to be learnt from the pandemic. The Lockdown Files show that Mr Hancock’s push to shut schools was just one of a number of repeated instances where the interests of children were apparently disregarded in favour of restrictions. Just by his body language.” Mr Hancock responded: “I’m having to turn the volume down”. Mr Hancock instead provided his personal email address after the PM’s chief of staff agreed to discuss the issue with him.

The journalist says the former health secretary is "troubled" by the publication of his messages.

She was given copies of the texts while helping Mr Hancock write his book, Pandemic Diaries. Mr Hancock has already given a partial account of his time as health secretary, with the help of Ms Oakeshott, in his book, Pandemic Diaries. A spokesman for Mr Hancock has previously said the messages were "doctored" and that Mr Hancock is considering legal action. The journalist said the public interest in publishing the messages was "overwhelming", adding she was concerned the public inquiry would be "a whitewash". Ms Oakeshott said Mr Hancock was "extremely troubled in terms of how to respond to this". The journalist behind the leak of messages Matt Hancock sent during the Covid-19 pandemic has said the former health secretary sent her a "menacing message" after their publication.

The Telegraph's cache of the former health secretary's WhatsApp messages gives a new perspective on what was really happening inside government at the beginning ...

Hancock and the government have said that the messages published so far only show part of the picture. People in government use WhatsApp for the same reasons as millions of other people – it is quick, efficient and easy to use. This would also help those, like Hancock, who have left government – if all their government work is conducted on a government device, they can hand that back to officials when their tenure ends and be sure that they have discharged their duty to record and protect government information. We can see from the leaked messages that ministers were expected to make decisions rapidly in the early phases of the pandemic. The government needs to show that it is able to manage this new reality, says Tim Durrant This has been the case for some time – Conservative MPs used the messaging app to build coalitions and test ideas during the chaotic Brexit debates of 2016-19 – but the pandemic revealed just how widespread the app’s use has become.

The former health secretary Matt Hancock is facing claims that he rejected advice to give coronavirus tests to all residents going into English care homes.

As he battled to meet his own target of 100,000 coronavirus tests per day, the investigation shows Mr Hancock texted his former boss George Osborne, the ex-chancellor who was then editing the Evening Standard, to “call in a favour”. People who were coming out of hospitals had the highest rates of transmission therefore “it was sensible and right to prioritise those” first, he said. “The reality was there was a very, very limited number of those tests,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today. This story categorically shows that the right place for this analysis of what happened in the pandemic is in the inquiry.” Allies of Mr Hancock said that was because a lack of testing capacity meant it was not possible to check everyone entering a care home. A spokesman alleged the messages provided to the Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who was handed them by Mr Hancock while she worked on his Pandemic Diaries memoir, have been “spun to fit an anti-lockdown agenda”.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock tried to bypass the education secretary to have schools closed in December 2020, the Daily Telegraph has reported.

The right place for a full assessment is the Inquiry". "I have the utmost respect for teachers who work tirelessly to support students," he wrote. "What a bunch of absolute arses the teaching unions are." And for that we must now fight a rearguard action." He remained as education secretary until September that year, when Mr Johnson reshuffled the cabinet. A spokesperson for Matt Hancock said: "These are partial accounts, obviously spun with an agenda. Mr Hancock asked advisers to look into the issue but was told that the policy had been "written and distributed and schools prepared" and that it would be "difficult to unpick now". just by his body language", Mr Hancock's aide, Emma Dean, wrote. A vocal critic of lockdowns, Ms Oakeshott obtained them while helping Mr Hancock write his book, Pandemic Diaries. "He's freaking out. In a statement, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said the "sneering exchange" showed "an appalling lack of respect for teachers". Sir Gavin said he wanted to make sure the PPE was provided so that schools "can't use [the shortfall] as a reason not to open" and that some would want to use it as "an excuse to avoid having to teach".

T. he journalist who leaked Matt Hancock's WhatsApp sent during the Covid pandemic said she has since received a “menancing message” from the former Health ...

That’s why the Covid inquiry is so important.” “When I heard confused rumours of a publication late on Tuesday night, I called and messaged Isabel to ask her if she had ‘any clues’ about it, and got no response. Isabel repeatedly reiterated the importance of trust throughout, and then broke that trust. “I will not be commenting further on any other stories or false allegations that Isabel will make. The Prime Minister urged people not to focus on “piecemeal bits of information” and to let the inquiry “get on with the job”. When I then saw what she’d done, I messaged to say it was ‘a big mistake’. [urged for the Government to provide the inquiry with “whatever support it needs to report by the end of this year”](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/matt-hancock-covid-inquiry-whatsapp-keir-starmer-rishi-sunak-b1063972.html). “It is vital that we learn lessons and equally vital that we learn those lessons in the right context,” Ms Whately said. [Isabel Oakeshott](/topic/isabel-oakeshott) leaked more than 100,000 messages after writing Mr Hancock’s book, the Pandemic Diaries. She and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pointed to the Covid inquiry as the “right way” to respond to questions surrounding the Government’s handling of the pandemic. He said they needed to fight a “rear-guard action” to prevent a “policy car crash” when children returned to the classrooms and started spreading the disease. In response Mr Hancock said that he is “hugely disappointed” in the “massive betrayal and breach of trust” by Ms Oakeshott.

Journalist Isabel Oakeshott said it was clear that Matt Hancock was not happy after she gave him no advance notice about leaking his private WhatsApp ...

Mr Hancock responded: "Tell me if I’m wrong but I would rather leave it out and just commit to test & isolate ALL going into care from hospital. Is that right?" I think the public interest is overwhelming." On April 14 2020, at almost 6.30pm, Mr Nixon sent a message saying: "Just to check: officials are saying your steer is to remove the commitment to testing on admission to care homes from the community, but keep commitment to testing on admission to care homes from hospital. Mr Hancock's spokesman said the messages had been "doctored to create a false story" that the top Tory ignored clinical advice, adding: "This is flat wrong." "This resource that I had is an extraordinary way to quickly get to the truth of what happened.

Messages from his time as health secretary during the pandemic were leaked to the Daily Telegraph by the ghost writer of his book.

When I heard confused rumours of a publication late on Tuesday night, I called and messaged Isabel to ask her if she had ‘any clues’ about it, and got no response. For someone who’s as intelligent as Matt Hancock to issue a statement saying there is no public interest in these revelations is patently absurd. I have the utmost respect for teachers who work tirelessly to support students. (See 9.42am.) In an interview with LBC, Gibb said people sometimes '“in the heat of the moment” say things on WhatsApp “they don’t really believe”. Gavin’s own wife is a primary school teacher – I’ve worked with Gavin for two years; I know he holds teachers in the highest regard. While about as many people have a favourable view of the leader of the opposition (37%) as the prime minister, fewer people dislike him (48%). Among Tory voters, the proportion with a favourable view of the PM is up seven points from 50% to 57%, while among Labour voters it is up from 12% to 19%. His ratings (based on responses to the question “do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of X”) are still lower than Keir Starmer’s, but they are a lot better than his party’s. More than four in ten leave voters (43%) now have a positive opinion of the prime minister, up from 38%, while among remain voters the increase has been from 25% to 32%. This morning Matt Hancock has for the first time responded directly to the story. I’ll try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. I am hugely disappointed and sad at the massive betrayal and breach of trust by Isabel Oakeshott.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock claimed he is the victim of a “massive betrayal and a breach of trust” after WhatsApp messages were leaked.

“When I heard confused rumours of a publication late on Tuesday night, I called and messaged Isabel to ask her if she had ‘any clues’ about it and got no response. It wasn’t a pleasant message.” It is so much bigger than that.” When I then saw what she’d done, I messaged to say it was ‘a big mistake’. [Hancock](https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/23356587.matt-hancock-rejected-advice-care-home-covid-testing/) said: “I am hugely disappointed and sad at the massive betrayal and breach of trust by [Isabel Oakeshott](https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/23356587.matt-hancock-rejected-advice-care-home-covid-testing/). Matt Hancock has claimed he is the victim of a “massive betrayal and a breach of trust” after WhatsApp messages were leaked, revealing the inside working of government during the

Former health secretary says he is 'hugely disappointed' with journalist who gave messages to Telegraph.

Speaking to Today, Oakeshott said: “Not one journalist worth their salt would sit on a cache of information in such an important matter, such a historic matter, and cover that up. For someone who’s as intelligent as Matt Hancock to issue a statement saying there is no public interest in these revelations is patently absurd. Responding to his statement that there was no public interest case for the leaks, Oakeshott told TalkTV: “What a ridiculous defence. Addressing her decision not to reveal them until after she had finished working for Hancock, she said: “My responsibilities, having finished that book with him, are now to the public interest.” “When I heard confused rumours of a publication late on Tuesday night, I called and messaged Isabel to ask her if she had ‘any clues’ about it, and got no response. In a statement, Hancock said: “I am hugely disappointed and sad at the massive betrayal and breach of trust by Isabel Oakeshott.

'I'm not going to get involved in a slanging match with Matt Hancock', says journalist who leaked messages.

A spokesperson for the former minister insisted the messages had been “doctored” and “spun to fit an anti-lockdown agenda”, and said it was “flat wrong” to say Mr Hancock had rejected such advice. “They did not pay me for the messages. In a statement, Mr Hancock said: “I am hugely disappointed and sad at the massive betrayal and breach of trust by Isabel Isabel Oakeshott. “Anyone who thinks I did this for money must be utterly insane. “I’m a working journalist,” she said. “I will not be commenting further on any other stories or false allegations that Isabel will make. “He can threaten me all he likes. When I heard confused rumours of a publication late on Tuesday night, I called and messaged Isabel to ask her if she had ‘any clues’ about it, and got no response. When I then saw what she’d done, I messaged to say it was ‘a big mistake’. “Last night, I was accused of sending menacing messages to Isabel. Isabel repeatedly reiterated the importance of trust throughout, and then broke that trust. “There is absolutely no public interest case for this huge breach.

The former health secretary also denied sending a 'menacing' text to journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who gave the messages to the Daily Telegraph.

“Anyone who thinks I did this for money must be utterly insane. “When I heard confused rumours of a publication late on Tuesday night, I called and messaged Isabel to ask her if she had ‘any clues’ about it, and got no response. Isabel repeatedly reiterated the importance of trust throughout, and then broke that trust. When I then saw what she’d done, I messaged to say it was ‘a big mistake’. [Gavin Williamson](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/gavin-williamson/) became embroiled in the row after the newspaper published messages in which he [appeared to suggest that teachers were looking for an “excuse” not to work](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/leaked-whatsapps-reveal-what-gavin-williamson-really-thought-about-teachers_uk_640048dee4b00c411f223a53) during the pandemic. “Further to reports in the Telegraph and other outlets, I wish to clarify that these messages were about some Unions and not teachers,” he said. “There is absolutely no public interest case for this huge breach. “I will respond to the substance in the appropriate place, at the inquiry, so that we can properly learn all the lessons based on a full and objective understanding of what happened in the pandemic, and why.” “I’ve been helping the Daily Telegraph with the investigation, you’ll see that I’ve been writing stories for The Daily Telegraph.” She denied any suggestion she was paid by the Telegraph newspaper for the messages, saying she was a “working journalist”. “I am also sorry for the impact on the very many people – political colleagues, civil servants and friends - who worked hard with me to get through the pandemic and save lives. The former health secretary said he was “sorry for the impact on the very many people – political colleagues, civil servants and friends - who worked hard with me to get through the pandemic and save lives”.

Former U.K. health chief denies sending “menacing” text to journalist Isabel Oakeshott. BRITAIN-POLITICS-HEALTH-VIRUS.

government decided to introduce face masks into English schools after a top adviser told then-PM Boris Johnson it wasn’t “worth an argument” with the Scottish government, which had already acted to introduce masks in schools. The texts suggest that Williamson was privately critical of teaching unions [and claimed](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/01/gavin-williamson-whatsapp-message-teachers-work-pandemic/) they “hate work.” And he knows that very well.” Hancock denied that charge. Oakeshott has been highly critical of the U.K. [second op-ed](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/02/isabel-oakeshott-lockdown-files-leak-schools-pandemic-matt-hancock/) and string of media appearances Thursday, Oakeshott accused her former co-author Hancock of sending her a “menacing” and “threatening” message in the early hours of the morning after the Telegraph published its first story on the leak.

The anti-lockdown, pro-Brexit journalist finds herself at the centre of a political row - not for the first time.

Here are our stories on the leaks: Mr Tice, now leader of the Reform UK Party, tweeted: "Conspiracy theorists who think I want US Ambassador job totally wrong. She's not a very good friend." In the past few days she has strongly defended her decision to publish texts given to her during the writing of the book saying it was in the "overwhelming national interest". She also said she was "not paid a penny for this work" but added: "The time I spent on the project - almost a year - was richly rewarding in other ways." She acknowledged some would be surprised by her decision to work with Matt Hancock on his book, Pandemic Diaries, but said she was driven by a desire to "get to the truth".

TalkTV's Isabel Oakeshott says Matt Hancock sent her a message saying "you have made a big mistake" after discovering she was the journalist that leaked 10.

I’m prepared to do this because I think the national interest is so utterly compelling,” she said. "So, this resource that I had is an extraordinary way to quickly get to the truth of what really happened. “The judge has not been given a deadline. Epsom College headteacher Emma Pattison died of shotgun wounds to the chest and abdomen, while her... “It's not a personal thing against Matt Hancock. Ms Oakeshott said she passed the messages to The Telegraph because the public enquiry into the handling of the pandemic had become a "farce".

TalkTV's Isabel Oakeshott has said she makes no apology for leaking thousands of government WhatsApp messages to a national newspaper.

"We need to be angry. Sorry to break it to you." "We now know that over 100,000 children never returned to school following the pandemic. Pretty much everyone is this country is in some shape or form paying the price for the decisions that were taken. "I make no apology whatsoever for acting in the public interest on this. acting in the public interest.

Journalist Isabel Oakeshott says it was in the "national interest" to publish ex-health secretary's texts.

Ms Oakeshott has strongly defended her decision to release the messages saying she was someone "acting in the overwhelming national interest". She was given copies of the texts while helping Mr Hancock write his book, Pandemic Diaries. It wasn't a pleasant message." Isabel repeatedly reiterated the importance of trust throughout, and then broke that trust." Here are our stories on the leaks: Pressed on the claim that Mr Hancock sent her a menacing message following the leaks, Ms Oakeshott said: "I'm saying that he sent me a message at 01.20 in the morning. Mr Hancock has already given a partial account of his time as health secretary, with the help of Ms Oakeshott, in his book, Pandemic Diaries. It began publishing the texts earlier this week. At Prime Minister's Questions, Rishi Sunak defended the public inquiry as the "right way" to scrutinise the handling of the pandemic and urged people not to focus on "piecemeal bits of information". Nothing more." "I wanted to get to the truth of it," she said. However, Mr Hancock said the messages were released in a "biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda".

You've made 'a big mistake' says former Health Secretary as he hits out at reporter's 'breach of trust and betrayal'

Mr Hancock messaged Sir Gavin to congratulate him on a decision to delay A-level exams for a few weeks. The messages also show how Mr Hancock and Sir Gavin had earlier expressed exasperation with teaching unions. The then-health secretary insists the decision was due to limitations on testing. Mr Hancock admitted telling Ms Oakeshott she had made “a big mistake” after she passed on his private messages to the newspaper, having helped him to write his Pandemic Diaries memoir. Schools minister Mr Gibb insisted on LBC Radio: “The actual decision-making that takes place in government takes place in minuted meetings. Ms Oakeshott later fired back again, saying she makes “no apology whatsoever for acting in the national interest”.

Political journalist at cente of storm over claims Matt Hancock rejected scientific advice to Covid test people going into care homes during the pandemic.

She has co-authored or ghost written ten political books and biographies, “all of which have attracted extensive media coverage”. “They are completely unnecessary symbols of fear and repression.” Writing in the Telegraph, she said: “There’s no secret about how I came to be in possession of this communications treasure trove. Suffice to say there was plenty of important material left over.” Following his resignation in June 2021, he downloaded the records from his phone and shared them with various people, including me. But she denied failing in her duty of care to Ms Pryce for publishing the story which ultimately led to her - and her former husband - being jailed.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock claimed he is the victim of a “massive betrayal and a breach of trust” after WhatsApp messages were leaked.

“When I heard confused rumours of a publication late on Tuesday night, I called and messaged Isabel to ask her if she had ‘any clues’ about it and got no response. It wasn’t a pleasant message.” It is so much bigger than that.” When I then saw what she’d done, I messaged to say it was ‘a big mistake’. [Hancock](https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/23356587.matt-hancock-rejected-advice-care-home-covid-testing/) said: “I am hugely disappointed and sad at the massive betrayal and breach of trust by [Isabel Oakeshott](https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/23356587.matt-hancock-rejected-advice-care-home-covid-testing/). Matt Hancock has claimed he is the victim of a “massive betrayal and a breach of trust” after WhatsApp messages were leaked, revealing the inside working of government during the

In leaked WhatsApp messages, Mr Hancock said Sir Gavin Williamson was battling "tooth and nail" to keep schools in England open, a move he disagreed with. Other ...

"I have the utmost respect for teachers who work tirelessly to support students. "What a bunch of absolute arses the teaching unions are." And for that we must now fight a rear-guard action." We hadn't got vaccines." Day by day, new evidence was emerging as the scientists were learning about this virus." Mr Hancock asked advisers to look into the issue but was told that the policy had been "written and distributed and schools prepared" and that it would be "difficult to unpick now". He remained as education secretary until September 2021 when Mr Johnson reshuffled his cabinet. just by his body language," Mr Hancock's aide, Emma Dean, wrote. "He's freaking out. In an exchange on 1 January, as the number of Covid cases continued to rise, Mr Hancock described Sir Gavin as having had to eat "a lot of humble pie". A vocal critic of coronavirus lockdowns, Ms Oakeshott obtained them while helping Mr Hancock write his book, Pandemic Diaries. He also complained he was the victim of a "massive betrayal and breach of trust" by Ms Oakeshott, and said he was sorry for the impact on political colleagues, civil servants and friends "who worked hard with me to get through the pandemic and save lives".

The ex-health secretary's pandemic text messages have been published by a newspaper - here are eight.

Here are our stories on the leaks: Helen Whately, who was social care minister at the time, travelled 50 miles to a Covid test centre so a relative could be tested in September 2020, according to the Telegraph. He flagged a Financial Times article stating the global case fatality rate had fallen below 0.04. In the same exchange, Mr Johnson says he "knows what I would prefer" if he was 80 and given a choice between exposure to Covid-19 and "destroying the economy". [shielding had ended ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53618776)for more than two million clinically vulnerable people in England, Scotland and Wales. Since March 2020 they had been advised to stay at home to avoid contracting Covid. In August 2020 the then-prime minister suggested that if renewed lockdown restrictions were needed over-65s be offered a choice on shielding. Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance replied: "We haven't found shielding easy or very effective first time round." What do you think?" He offers "five marks" to whoever can explain the difference and asks them to "show working" - before Mr Cummings assures him it is a "common confusion". Mr Hancock was worried the government could look "flaky" if it was accused of using them to pad the stats. And we don't stop older people from using stairs.

What does the row between Matt Hancock and the reporter who leaked his WhatsApp messages reveal about how journalism works?

She probably didn't intend the debate also to also focus on the ethics of journalism." They will have taken advice that the confidentiality agreement can be broken in the public interest - and that Mr Hancock is unlikely to sue. The decisions made during the pandemic were a "matter of life or death". If it is correct that he wasn't notified before publication, that would be an interesting insight into the workings of journalism. She says, backed by the Telegraph, that her decision to publish the messages is in the public interest. "It's not of course the reason I did this," she added. Ms Oakeshott told Piers Morgan on Talk TV, where she is also international editor, that Mr Hancock reneged on an undertaking to do an interview with the channel after the book was published. These are the messages she has now given to the Telegraph. Publisher Biteback declined to comment when approached by the BBC. He says it was a "breach of trust". Her scoop for the Telegraph is journalistically unusual. On the other side is Matt Hancock.

Writer who handed more than 100000 of ex-health secretary's messages to newspaper defends her actions.

Oakeshott has faced questions about why she ghost-wrote a book for Hancock that put across his version of the government’s response to the pandemic while she had in hand the WhatsApp messages she now claims tell a different story. Hancock gave the messages to Oakeshott as they collaborated on his memoirs. It included one exchange in which Johnson cited concerns from a UK scientist that the modelling for the number of deaths could be wrong. On Thursday, she said: “We were all let down by the response to the pandemic and repeated unnecessary lockdowns. “Against this backdrop, the Telegraph exposé is clearly in the overwhelming public interest. These issues must be addressed well before the next general election.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock has issued a lengthy statement after the leaking of thousands of WhatsApp messages that were sent and received during ...

In her first interview after the messages were published, she said: "The public interest is overwhelming. For someone who's as intelligent as Matt Hancock to issue a statement saying there is no public interest in these revelations is patently absurd. He said: "Last night, I was accused of sending menacing messages to Isabel. When I heard confused rumours of a publication late on Tuesday night, I called and messaged Isabel to ask her if she had 'any clues' about it, and got no response. The MP said: "I am hugely disappointed and sad at the massive betrayal and breach of trust by Isabel Oakeshott. As we have seen, releasing them in this way gives a partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda."

Leaked WhatsApp exchanges from then health secretary to top civil servant in 2020 reveal concerns over enforcement of rules.

In a statement, Hancock said: “I am hugely disappointed and sad at the massive betrayal and breach of trust by Isabel Oakeshott. [gave WhatsApp messages] from his time as health secretary to the Daily Telegraph. The public deserves the truth and bereaved families deserve justice.” At the time, Case was in his last month as Downing Street permanent secretary. She claimed publishing the messages with the Telegraph this week was in the public interest because they shed light on the inner workings of government as it responded to the pandemic. The former health secretary apologised on Thursday for the impact of the release of the messages on those he had worked with during the pandemic.