Matt Hancock’s handling of the COVID pandemic has come under fresh scrutiny following a leaked trove of more than 100,000 WhatsApp messages.An investigation by The Daily Telegraph alleges the former health secretary rejected testing advice on care homes and expressed concern this could get in the way of meeting his targets. The MP strongly denied the “distorted account” with a spokesman alleging the conversations, leaked by journalist Isabel Oakeshott after she worked on his Pandemic Diaries memoir, have been “spun to fit an anti-lockdown agenda”.Former chancellor George Osborne and Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg are also the subject of some of the messages.Politics live: Government ‘considered ordering death of all pet cats’Here, Sky News looks at the key exchanges that reportedly took place:Hancock says care home testing ‘muddies’ waters The Telegraph’s investigation claims chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty told the then health secretary in April 2020 there should be testing for “all going into care homes”.Mr Hancock described it as “obviously a good positive step”.But the messages suggest he ultimately rejected the guidance, telling an aide the move just “muddies the waters”.According to the investigation, he said: “Tell me if I’m wrong but I would rather leave it out
Read More











