The ex-health secretary's pandemic text messages have been published by a newspaper - here are eight.
WhatsApp messages sent by Matt Hancock when he was health secretary during the pandemic have been revealed.newspaper. The BBC has not seen or independently verified the WhatsApp messages nor the context in which they were sent.After congratulating then education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson on delaying A-level exams for a few weeks - a shorter period than some teaching unions called for - Mr Hancock had some choice words.
The education secretary texted: "All of them will [open] but some will just want to say they can't so they have an excuse to avoid having to teach, what joys!!!"Boris Johnson had misgivings about the government's shielding advice in discussions with the chief medical officer Prof Sir Chris Whitty. In August 2020 the then-prime minister suggested that if renewed lockdown restrictions were needed over-65s be offered a choice on shielding.
Mr Hancock enthusiastically replied "for MOST!", despite UK labs struggling to keep with demand and people being asked toMr Hancock clashed with then-education secretary Sir Gavin over whether to close schools ahead of their return January 2021. Mr Hancock was worried the government could look "flaky" if it was accused of using them to pad the stats.
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