New lyrics reveal Matt Hancock discussed how Covid could ‘propel’ his career on the day the virus hit the UK
Matt Hancock was pictured today for the first time since the leak of his private WhatsApps, which the British have given an extraordinary glimpse into behind-the-scenes ministerial bickering during Covid.
The disgraced ex-Minister of Health tweeted a photo of himself with MP Lucy Frazer, his political neighbour, after an “important meeting” to discuss “regulating traffic at Junction 37 of the A14”.
It came hours earlier That of the Daily Telegraph latest revelation that Mr Hancock shared advice on how the pandemic could ‘propel’ his career to the next league just two days before Britain recorded its first ever cases.
The message, written by an unnamed “wise friend,” claimed that a “good-handed crisis of this magnitude could propel you to the next class and break you in terms of public perception.”
Other bombshell texts today revealed that Mr Hancock also praised his own performance in a MailOnline story which showed him ‘covered in mud’ carrying a rugby ball through a London park a day after then Prime Minister Boris Johnson left the country begged to stay home.
He told his adviser, who called the story “ridiculous” and tried to downplay the video footage, “I think I look great!”
The disgraced ex-minister of health tweeted a picture of himself with MP Lucy Frazer, his political neighbour, after an ‘important meeting’ to talk about ‘regulating traffic at Junction 37 of the A14’
Matt Hancock was spotted carrying a rugby ball through a north London park this afternoon, the day after Boris Johnson pleaded with the nation to ‘stay home this weekend’
On January 29, he forwarded a message to his media adviser Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, which Mr Hancock said was from a ‘wise friend’. It says that the former health minister “has come across well so far” and that a “well-handled crisis of this magnitude could propel you to the next class and break you out in terms of public perception.” The person who sent him the message, who is not identified, encouraged Mr Hancock to think about how he wants his handling of the crisis to be remembered and how he will project these qualities.
The latest reports show that Mr Hancock was already considering how the pandemic could help his career back in January 2020.
On January 29, he forwarded a message to his media adviser Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, which Mr Hancock said was from a ‘wise friend’.
It says the former health minister “has come across well so far” and describes him as “calm, authoritative and honest.”
The unknown sender encouraged Mr Hancock to think about how he wants his handling of the crisis to be remembered and how he will convey these qualities.
The message encouraged Mr Hancock to ‘show the prime minister that you are his extremely capable, non-showboat lieutenant’ and ‘show him that you care for him, not you’.
The exchanges took place two days before Britain recorded its first cases, a 23-year-old University of York student and his 50-year-old mother, who arrived in the UK from China.
Further WhatsApp exchanges show that Mr Hancock’s standing has remained on the public’s radar.
Emma Dean, one of the special advisers to the then health minister, sent him a link to a YouGov poll on Dec. 29, which was the most popular conservative poll.
Mr. Hancock replied, “F*** that’s good.”
It is not clear what the poll revealed. But in January 2021, a month later, he finished in fourth place, behind Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson and Theresa May.
In another text in January 2021, Special Media Adviser Damon Poole told Mr Hancock that he had just received a call from MailOnline about footage of the former Health Secretary taking a walk in a London park.
The exclusive footage, taken on January 16, shows Mr Hancock ‘covered in mud’ carrying a rugby ball through Queen’s Park in north London.
It was taken a day after then Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the public to ‘think twice’ before leaving the house and behaving as if they have Covid.
Mr Poole said it was ‘ridiculous’ and suggested telling this website: ‘Matt was outside in compliance with exercise rules.’
Mr. Hancock replied, “If you need a line, say ‘As you can see, Matt was out practicing.'” He added, “I think I look great!”
In May 2021, he advised his team to contact Gina Colangelo, his married assistant with whom he was caught having an affair with his PR affairs just a month later.
Footage obtained by The Sun in 2021 shows Mr Hancock and Ms Colangelo kissing, in violation of social distancing rules in place at the time.
Emma Dean, one of the special advisers to the then health minister, sent him a link to a YouGov poll on Dec. 29, which was the most popular conservative poll. Mr Hancock replied: ‘F*** that’s good’
In another text in January 2021, Special Media Adviser Damon Poole told Mr Hancock that he had just received a call from MailOnline about footage of the former Health Secretary taking a walk in a London park
In May 2021, he advised his team to contact Gina Colangelo, his married assistant with whom he was caught having an affair with his PR affairs just a month later.
Mr. Poole asked Mr. Hancock if he had ‘said yes to photos you are surfing’. He replied, ‘Yes. Don’t you think so? Can you talk to Gina and decide. I understand the risks’
Mr. Poole asked Mr. Hancock if he had ‘said yes to photos you are surfing’.
He replied, ‘Yes. Don’t you think so? Can you talk to Gina and decide. I understand the risks.’
The Telegraph also reported that Mr Hancock controlled ‘almost every post’ sent from his Twitter account.
In April 2020, when Social Affairs Minister Helen Whately attempted to discuss PPE deliveries to care homes, he sent her five messages.
In comparison, on the same day, according to the newspaper, he sent 72 messages to the team responsible for managing his Twitter account.
MailOnline has not seen or independently verified the WhatsApp messages leaked by Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist who helped Hancock write his book Pandemic Diaries.
But texts show that he would edit and “delete” tweets from his team before they were shared.
.