WhatsApps present scientists’ scathing view of Hancock and Johnson – full messages
Top scientists accused Matt Hancock and Boris Johnson of making an attempt to rewrite historical past in the course of the pandemic.
The Covid Inquiry has been proven WhatsApps between Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. The pair raised considerations about how the PM and Health Secretary had been claiming they didn’t know early on that Covid might be unfold by individuals who didn’t have signs.
In one withering message, Sir Chris complained: “We will have to put up with quite a bit of this.”
Other messages present how Mr Hancock didn’t take up a suggestion of additional help from Mr Johnson within the weeks earlier than the primary lockdown as he basked in reward. He additionally insisted the Government was properly ready for a pandemic when Dominic Cummings raised considerations concerning the unfold of the virus.
Mr Hancock is giving proof on the Inquiry over two days. Several key witnesses have accused him of not telling the reality throughout his time as Health Secretary. As he arrived this morning, one individual might be heard shouting: “Did lie your way through Covid Mr Hancock?”
Mr Hancock resigned from Cabinet in June 2021 after he was caught on CCTV breaching his personal Covid steering by kissing his secret lover Gina Coladangelo in his workplace.
Matt Hancock insisted Government had ‘full plans’ for pandemic
Mr Hancock insisted the Government had “full plans” to cope with a pandemic in January 2020. Dominic Cummings, who was a senior adviser in No10 on the time, requested the Health Secretary concerning the Government’s readiness.
In a WhatsApp trade on January 23, he wrote: “To what extent have you investigated preparations for something terrible like Ebola or a flu pandemic? Please ensure we take a risk averse approach to funding preparations in the SR (Spending Review). I’m going to dig into this plus bioterror.”
Mr Hancock replied: “Yes We have full plans up to & including pandemic levels regularly prepped and refreshed. The CMO (Chief Medical Officer) is an epidemiologist by background. It is in our top tier risk register – and we had an SR bid even before this.”
In response, Mr Cummings wrote: “Great. Am reading about CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and preps for flu pandemic. V worrying.”
Mr Hancock added: “Yes. We are about to evacuate British nationals from Wuhan. They say vaccine for WnCoV is at least a year away – I am pushing them very hard on that.”
Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock’s backslapping messages
Mr Hancock didn’t take up Boris Johnson’s provide of additional help within the weeks earlier than the nationwide lockdown. WhatsApps present the PM messaged the Health Secretary on March 7, 2020. He wrote: “You are doing great, keep going. Anything I can do to help?”
Mr Hancock replied: “Kind of you to say. It’s not easy. You are doing great too. Follow the science!
“There’s one thing I think we should do more on when the moment is right: that this is a national effort. Everyone can do their bit. It starts with hand washing but there will be more: helping old folks if they have to stay at home. We should have the asks of the nation ready if this steps up. It’s a great unifying clarion call for you to lead when the time is right.”
Mr Johnson messaged again: “OK let’s talk mon. Am off to rugby.”
“Excellent. Enjoy,” Mr Hancock then replied.
The PM and his then fiancee Carrie attended the England v Wales rugby recreation at Twickenham later that day. The Six Nations conflict passed off, though two folks had already died within the UK with Covid by that time and the virus was spreading.
Top scientists accused Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock of rewriting historical past
Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance raised considerations about how Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock had been making an attempt to rewrite historical past. In a WhatsApp trade on July 24, 2020, Sir Patrick requested: “Why are PM and Matt Hancock saying we didn’t know about asymptomatic transmission?”
Sir Chris wrote: “I have no idea. We did not know how important they were, that is correct. But we were aware of the possibility. But it is correct we thought transmission was most likely after sx. (Like sars).” Sir Patrick replied: “Not by March. I think we were pretty clear that we thought there was asymptomatic transmission.”
“Yes,” Sir Chris added. “We will have to put up with quite a bit of this. Just as well sage minutes are [in the] public domain.”
The messages adopted Prime Minister’s Questions on July 8, when Mr Johnson mentioned: “The one thing that nobody knew early on during this pandemic was that the virus was being passed asymptomatically from person to person in the way that it is.”
Later that week Mr Hancock made the same declare throughout an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “One of the things we have learned about this virus is that it transmits asymptomatically, and in that it’s different from all previous coronaviruses,” he mentioned.
“So that is an area where the science and scientific advice changed, and it changed because the science improved and we learned more about the virus. This isn’t in any way a criticism of the scientists, who I think have been brilliant… we have a different policy in place now because we have learned.”
