This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64848106
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Matt Hancock: Leaked messages suggest plan to frighten public | Matt Hancock: Leaked messages suggest plan to frighten public |
| (2 months later) | |
| Matt Hancock suggested to an aide that they "frighten the pants off everyone" about Covid, messages published by the Sunday Telegraph show. | Matt Hancock suggested to an aide that they "frighten the pants off everyone" about Covid, messages published by the Sunday Telegraph show. |
| It appears the former health secretary discussed when to reveal the existence of the Kent variant of Covid to ensure people complied with lockdown rules. | It appears the former health secretary discussed when to reveal the existence of the Kent variant of Covid to ensure people complied with lockdown rules. |
| In another exchange, the head of the Civil Service, Simon Case, suggested the "fear/guilt factor" was vital to the government's messaging. | In another exchange, the head of the Civil Service, Simon Case, suggested the "fear/guilt factor" was vital to the government's messaging. |
| The BBC has not verified the messages. | The BBC has not verified the messages. |
| More than 100,000 WhatsApp messages were leaked to the Telegraph by the journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who has been a vocal critic of lockdowns. | More than 100,000 WhatsApp messages were leaked to the Telegraph by the journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who has been a vocal critic of lockdowns. |
| The former health secretary has repeatedly criticised the leaks, referring to the published messages as a "partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda." | The former health secretary has repeatedly criticised the leaks, referring to the published messages as a "partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda." |
| In an exchange between Mr Hancock and an aide from 13th December 2020 - five days before the government scrapped plans to relax rules for many over Christmas - the former health secretary discusses when to "deploy" the announcement of the new variant. | In an exchange between Mr Hancock and an aide from 13th December 2020 - five days before the government scrapped plans to relax rules for many over Christmas - the former health secretary discusses when to "deploy" the announcement of the new variant. |
| Messages show Hancock reaction after kiss photo | Messages show Hancock reaction after kiss photo |
| Eight key Hancock WhatsApp Covid messages | Eight key Hancock WhatsApp Covid messages |
| Covid messages leak a massive betrayal - Hancock | Covid messages leak a massive betrayal - Hancock |
| They are talking about the possibility of the London Mayor Sadiq Khan resisting a possible lockdown for London. | They are talking about the possibility of the London Mayor Sadiq Khan resisting a possible lockdown for London. |
| The Department of Health adviser suggests: "Rather than doing too much forward signalling, we can roll pitch with the new strain." | The Department of Health adviser suggests: "Rather than doing too much forward signalling, we can roll pitch with the new strain." |
| Mr Hancock says: "We frighten the pants of everyone with the new strain." | Mr Hancock says: "We frighten the pants of everyone with the new strain." |
| The adviser responds: "Yep, that's what will get proper behaviour change." | The adviser responds: "Yep, that's what will get proper behaviour change." |
| The minister then asks: "When do we deploy the new variant." | The minister then asks: "When do we deploy the new variant." |
| Mr Hancock announced the new variant the following day. | Mr Hancock announced the new variant the following day. |
| In a separate WhatsApp conversation from January 2021, when lockdown measures were in place, Mr Hancock is seen discussing possible changes with Mr Case. | In a separate WhatsApp conversation from January 2021, when lockdown measures were in place, Mr Hancock is seen discussing possible changes with Mr Case. |
| Mr Case warns against making small changes to the rules as looking "ridiculous". He talks about "ramping up messaging" adding the "fear/guilt factor" was "vital". | Mr Case warns against making small changes to the rules as looking "ridiculous". He talks about "ramping up messaging" adding the "fear/guilt factor" was "vital". |
| Watch: Matt Hancock WhatsApp message row in 83 seconds | Watch: Matt Hancock WhatsApp message row in 83 seconds |
| Watch: Matt Hancock WhatsApp message row in 83 seconds | Watch: Matt Hancock WhatsApp message row in 83 seconds |
| Other messages from October 2020 appear to show Mr Case suggesting coronavirus guidance should be delivered by "trusted local figures, not nationally distrusted figures like the PM, sadly". Boris Johnson was prime minister at the time. | Other messages from October 2020 appear to show Mr Case suggesting coronavirus guidance should be delivered by "trusted local figures, not nationally distrusted figures like the PM, sadly". Boris Johnson was prime minister at the time. |
| In a statement responding to the leaks, Mr Hancock said: "There is absolutely no public interest case for this huge breach. All the materials for the book have already been made available to the Inquiry, which is the right, and only, place for everything to be considered properly and the right lessons to be learned. | In a statement responding to the leaks, Mr Hancock said: "There is absolutely no public interest case for this huge breach. All the materials for the book have already been made available to the Inquiry, which is the right, and only, place for everything to be considered properly and the right lessons to be learned. |
| "As we have seen, releasing them in this way gives a partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda." | "As we have seen, releasing them in this way gives a partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda." |
| Chris Heaton-Harris, the government's Northern Ireland secretary, told BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg the messages give "almost a view into the psyche of Mr Hancock rather than into the actual decision-making". | Chris Heaton-Harris, the government's Northern Ireland secretary, told BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg the messages give "almost a view into the psyche of Mr Hancock rather than into the actual decision-making". |
| "I think viewers would expect that politicians being human beings would express things in a human way." | "I think viewers would expect that politicians being human beings would express things in a human way." |
| Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe told the BBC's Stephen Nolan on Radio 5 Live that she had been "just as much against lockdown as Isabel Oakeshott", but found the leaks "profoundly unhelpful". | Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe told the BBC's Stephen Nolan on Radio 5 Live that she had been "just as much against lockdown as Isabel Oakeshott", but found the leaks "profoundly unhelpful". |
| Labour's Jonathan Ashworth - who was shadow health secretary during the pandemic - said there were always "two sides to a story" but many people will be "deeply troubled" by the messages. | Labour's Jonathan Ashworth - who was shadow health secretary during the pandemic - said there were always "two sides to a story" but many people will be "deeply troubled" by the messages. |
| He called for the public inquiry to "report in some preliminary way by the end of the year", and added: "I also think Rishi Sunak needs to get a grip of this situation and insist that all ministers hand over everything, that no WhatsApps are deleted." | He called for the public inquiry to "report in some preliminary way by the end of the year", and added: "I also think Rishi Sunak needs to get a grip of this situation and insist that all ministers hand over everything, that no WhatsApps are deleted." |
| In other newly-released leaked messages, Mr Johnson spoke of the need to get "absolutely militant" on social distancing in Covid hotspots, saying there had been a "general collapse" in rule following. | In other newly-released leaked messages, Mr Johnson spoke of the need to get "absolutely militant" on social distancing in Covid hotspots, saying there had been a "general collapse" in rule following. |
| In a WhatsApp conversation with Mr Case from July 2020, he wrote: "We need to tell people that if they want to save the economy and protect the NHS then they need to follow the rules. | In a WhatsApp conversation with Mr Case from July 2020, he wrote: "We need to tell people that if they want to save the economy and protect the NHS then they need to follow the rules. |
| "And we may need to tighten the rules. You can now have six people from different households indoors. Do people really understand that and are they observing it?" he asked. | "And we may need to tighten the rules. You can now have six people from different households indoors. Do people really understand that and are they observing it?" he asked. |
| The exchange came one month after the prime minister broke the rules himself. | The exchange came one month after the prime minister broke the rules himself. |
| Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie, and the then-chancellor, Rishi Sunak, all received one fine each for attending a birthday party thrown in the ex-PM's honour in June 2020. | Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie, and the then-chancellor, Rishi Sunak, all received one fine each for attending a birthday party thrown in the ex-PM's honour in June 2020. |
| A spokesman for Mr Johnson said it was not appropriate to comment on these leaks, and added that the public inquiry provided the right process for these issues to be examined. | A spokesman for Mr Johnson said it was not appropriate to comment on these leaks, and added that the public inquiry provided the right process for these issues to be examined. |
| The WhatsApp leaks | The WhatsApp leaks |
| A collection of more than 100,000 messages sent between former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and other ministers and officials at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic have been obtained by the Telegraph. Here are some of our stories on the leaks: | A collection of more than 100,000 messages sent between former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and other ministers and officials at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic have been obtained by the Telegraph. Here are some of our stories on the leaks: |
| Text leak shows people in quarantine hotels mocked | Text leak shows people in quarantine hotels mocked |
| Messages reveal battle over Covid school policy | Messages reveal battle over Covid school policy |
| Rees-Mogg had Covid test couriered during shortage | Rees-Mogg had Covid test couriered during shortage |
| Hancock denies claim he rejected care home advice | Hancock denies claim he rejected care home advice |
| Covid hearings begin in court of public opinion | Covid hearings begin in court of public opinion |
| Who is Isabel Oakeshott? | Who is Isabel Oakeshott? |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Coronavirus lockdown measures | Coronavirus lockdown measures |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |
| Matthew Hancock | Matthew Hancock |
| Coronavirus |