Matt Hancock advised aides he needed to “frighten the pants off everyone” to make sure compliance with COVID-19 restrictions.
That is the most recent revelation from greater than 100,000 WhatsApp messages leaked to the Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who was given them by the previous well being secretary whereas they have been collaborating on his memoir.
The messages present Mr Hancock and others mentioned find out how to use the Kent variant of the virus to scare the general public so they’d obey the foundations.
In December 2020, Mr Hancock and his workforce have been involved that London Mayor Sadiq Khan may observe Andy Burnham – the mayor of Greater Manchester who had clashed with the federal government over the imposition of harder restrictions in his area.
Mr Hancock’s adviser mentioned: “Rather than doing too much forward signalling, we can roll pitch with the new strain.”
“We frighten the pants of everyone with the new strain,” the then well being secretary responded, earlier than lamenting that problems with Brexit have been “taking the top line” within the information agenda.
The adviser mentioned: “Yep that’s what will get proper behaviour change.”
“When do we deploy the new variant?” Mr Hancock mentioned.
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The new variant was publicly recognized on 14 December and 5 days later Boris Johnson introduced that households would now not have the ability to meet for Christmas.
On 6 January 2021, England entered a 3rd lockdown.
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‘The concern/guilt issue important’
Four days later, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and Mr Hancock have been once more speaking about how to make sure compliance.
They thought-about stricter mask-wearing guidelines, however Mr Hancock mentioned that he “honestly wouldn’t move on any small things unless we move on a lot”.
Mr Case agreed: “I think that is exactly right. Small stuff looks ridiculous.
“Ramping up messaging – the concern/guilt issue important.”
He added: “I suspect London Nightingale (hospital) coming into use will feel like a big public moment.
“Especially as I suppose will probably be full with a few days (primarily based on present information).”
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Matt Hancock’s ex-aide called Cummings a ‘psychopath’, leaked messages show
On Saturday, another set of messages revealed that Mr Hancock’s former aide had called Dominic Cummings a “f****** piece of s***”.
‘He’s a psychotherapist…psychopath’
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin made the comment in March 2021 after Mr Cummings, who had been Mr Johnson’s most senior adviser, used a parliamentary committee listening to to explain the Department of Health and Social Care as having been lowered to a “smoking ruin” by the pandemic.
Mr Hancock requested: “How would you deal with this Cummings crap?”
His former adviser responded privately: “I was about to message. What a f***ing piece of s***.
“You went out and backed him over Barnard Castle, and he responds by briefing towards you relentlessly, in personal and now in public. He’s a psychotherapist.”
He swiftly corrected himself: “Psychopath.”
Six months into the pandemic, Mr Hancock additionally mentioned that “removing SS (NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens) will be a massive improvement”, in line with the leaked messages.
In an announcement this week, Mr Hancock mentioned that every one the supplies for his e-book had been made out there to the official COVID-19 inquiry.
Source: information.sky.com”