Matt Hancock

The latest set of leaked messages also reveal then-chancellor Rishi Sunak told Mr Hancock that Mr Cummings' time in Downing Street was a "nightmare".

In one message from October 2020, Mr Hancock appears to hit out at Mr Sunak's attitude about lockdowns, writing: "What's Rishi's dilemma? [Mr Hancock](https://news.sky.com/topic/matt-hancock-8131), who was health secretary during much of the pandemic, messaged on the day of the hearing in March 2021: "How would you deal with this Cummings crap?" It's highly intrusive, completely inappropriate and has all been discussed endlessly before." He's a psychotherapist." [Rishi Sunak](https://news.sky.com/topic/rishi-sunak-8527) told Mr Hancock that Mr Cummings' time in Downing Street was a "nightmare". What a f***ing piece of s***.

The UK's Covid-era health secretary is not so much incompetent as annoying.

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Television personality Lizzie Cundy spoke about Matt Hancock's leaked WhatsApp messages on GB News, branding the former Health Secretary 'stupid' and 'dumb' ...

I do think it’s in the public interest.” He was controlling us through the pandemic. He was governing us. She continued: “The snake always bites, how stupid are you Matt, I mean unbelievable. She continued: “You know what, I do think it’s in the public interest. The TV personality said she thought it was in the public interest for the messages to be leaked.

New leaked messages between Matt Hancock and officials show England's then health secretary scrambling to save his career after footage emerged of his ...

The messages show Mr Hancock and his advisers discussing among themselves and liaising with Number 10 about how to respond to the story, amid an unfolding political storm. The messages also show the reaction of Mr Hancock and Ms Coladangelo to a video obtained by The Sun. The messages, published by the Telegraph, show Mr Hancock discussing the guidance in place at the time and deciding what his initial response to media questions should be.

If the state fails to account for its actions, then the media will make its own enquiries. The result is bound to be further paranoia about Big Brother.

The result is bound to be further paranoia about Big Brother. There is no guarantee that China will give early warnings of another zoonotic virus outbreak. This documentary-style series follows investigative journalists as they uncover the truth.

If the state fails to account for its actions, then the media will make its own enquiries. The result is bound to be further paranoia about Big Brother.

Previously, he was editor of the Sunday Times of London and its chief political commentator. That would show that as well as the desire for thoroughness, the state understands the importance of timeliness too. It may not be possible to change the trajectory and speed of the juggernaut now, but he could demand an interim report by year’s end into the pandemic’s policy implications. In the long run, the inquiry will publish Hancock’s evidence in full, alongside the testimony of other key players — but it will take months, even years. The inquiry into the pandemic, for instance, has not yet even taken evidence, giving weight to The Telegraph’s justification for preemptive publication of its treasure trove: Many readers will thank the newspaper for preventing an “official cover-up.” Boris Johnson dragged his feet on holding an inquiry for months, doubtless because it would reveal his insouciance and dithering at the beginning of the crisis. An official inquiry is the best way to set the record straight. Another message suggests that the decision to make mask-wearing in English schools compulsory was taken solely on the grounds of political expediency, not science. The costs and benefits of lockdowns, in particular, have to be analyzed and understood. Nuance walks out of the door if we have to rely on limited, partial evidence. This week, embarrassing WhatsApp messages between ministers and officials at the height of the Covid crisis were published in the British press. In the West, authorities are also likely to encounter new obstacles to effective public health policy at home.

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 ...

"And we may need to tighten the rules. Here are some of our stories on the leaks: In a statement responding to the leaks, Matt Hancock said: "There is absolutely no public interest case for this huge breach. Mr Case warns against making small changes to the rules as looking "ridiculous". Do people really understand that and are they observing it?" In an exchange between Mr Hancock and an aide from 13th December 2020, the former health secretary discusses when to "deploy" the announcement of the new variant.

Rishi Sunak faces calls for inquiry into whether medical evidence was ignored before the launch of his £849m initiative.

The concern in government that the scheme was spreading the pandemic is revealed in Hancock’s WhatsApp messages. Fetzer said on Saturday he had made a submission to the Covid-19 public inquiry and he considered the scheme should now be examined as part of the hearings. In January 2021, the Treasury said its own analysis had shown that areas with a high take-up of the scheme had low subsequent Covid-19 cases. The paper found the virus spread more rapidly in areas with lots of participating restaurants and said the scheme might have “public health costs that vastly outstrip its short-term economic benefits”. He said his department had informed the Treasury and was “protecting” officials. He said the evidence to date suggested there may have been a “cover-up” and the Treasury needed to publish all the relevant documents.

The exchanges are among more than 100000 messages leaked by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who was given them by Mr Hancock while they were collaborating on ...

Six months into the pandemic, Mr Hancock also said that "removing SS (NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens) will be a massive improvement", according to the leaked messages. [Mr Cummings](https://news.sky.com/topic/dominic-cummings-8367), who had been [Mr Johnson's](https://news.sky.com/topic/boris-johnson-5853) most senior adviser, used a parliamentary committee hearing to describe the Department of Health and Social Care as having been reduced to a "smoking ruin" by the pandemic. [Leaked messages show Hancock's reaction to footage of him and aide in passionate embrace](https://news.sky.com/story/i-cant-say-its-very-enjoyable-viewing-leaked-messages-show-hancocks-reaction-to-footage-of-him-and-aide-in-passionate-embrace-12824944) [Matt Hancock's ex-aide called Cummings a 'psychopath', leaked messages show](https://news.sky.com/story/matt-hancock-aide-called-cummings-a-psychopath-leaked-messages-show-12825489) "We frighten the pants of everyone with the new strain," the then health secretary responded, before lamenting that complications with Brexit were "taking the top line" in the news agenda. The messages show Mr Hancock and others discussed how to use the Kent variant of the virus to scare the public so they would obey the rules. Matt Hancock told aides he wanted to "frighten the pants off everyone" to ensure compliance with COVID-19 restrictions.

It appears the former health secretary discussed when to reveal the existence of the Kent variant of Covid, to ensure people comply with lockdown rules. In ...

"And we may need to tighten the rules. In a statement responding to the leaks, Matt Hancock said: "There is absolutely no public interest case for this huge breach. Here are some of our stories on the leaks: Mr Case warns against making small changes to the rules as looking "ridiculous". Do people really understand that and are they observing it?" Mr Hancock says: "We frighten the pants of everyone with the new strain."