Matt Hancock wanted to ‘frighten the pants off’ public about Covid strain, leaked messages show
06.03.2023 - 08:01
/ msn.com
Matt Hancock told aides he wanted to “frighten the pants off everyone” about the Kent variant of Covid to ensure compliance with lockdown rules, leaked messages have revealed. The latest set of WhatsApp exchanges show the then-health secretary and others discussing how to use an announcement about the variant to scare the public into changing their behaviour. The messages, among 100,000 passed to the Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, show cabinet secretary Simon Case suggested in January 2021 that the “fear” factor would be “vital”.
They also show Mr Hancock’s repeated concerns that the then chancellor Rishi Sunak’s signature Eat Out To Help Out initiative was contributing to the spread of Covid. And Mr Sunak and Mr Hancock were revealed to have complained about Dominic Cummings’ “nightmare” tenure as Boris Johnson’s top adviser at No 10. The latest messages show that in December 2020, there was concern London Mayor Sadiq Khan could follow the example of Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who had clashed with the government over the decision to impose stringent lockdown curbs.
Mr Hancock’s adviser said: “Rather than doing too much forward signalling, we can roll pitch with the new strain. ” The then health secretary responded: “We frighten the pants of everyone with the new strain. ”The conversation, on 13 December, came amid concerns about the rapid spread of the virus in south-east England.
On 14 December Mr Hancock announced that a new variant had been identified in the UK. London and south-east England were to enter a new Tier 4 alert level, it was announced on 19 December 19, when Mr Johnson also cancelled a promised Christmas “bubbles” policy allowing families to meet. The entirety of England entered
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