Leaked WhatsApp Messages Reveal Disagreements within UK Government over School Closures during Pandemic
(MENAFN) The UK government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been a topic of controversy and debate since the outbreak began in early 2020. As the virus continued to spread, schools across the country were closed in an effort to prevent its transmission. However, leaked WhatsApp messages have now revealed disagreements within the government about this decision, specifically regarding the reopening of schools in January 2021 after the UK's second lockdown.
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock was one of the key players in this debate, as the leaked messages reveal that he had fought against the reopening of schools. In the messages, Hancock expressed concern that reopening schools would lead to a surge in Covid-19 cases once pupils returned to the classroom, which he described as a "policy car crash." These concerns were not shared by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who had advised then Prime Minister Boris Johnson to approve the reopening.
The leaked messages were obtained by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who was working with Hancock on his memoirs, "The Pandemic Diaries." Over 100,000 texts were collected and published by The Daily Telegraph, causing Hancock to feel like a victim of a "massive betrayal and breach of trust." One of the conversations revealed was between Hancock and his special adviser Emma Dean, where they discussed the reopening of schools after a government Zoom meeting. Dean expressed that Williamson wasn't being "wholly rational" based on his body language during the meeting. Hancock suggested a "rearguard action" to prevent a policy car crash, expressing concern about the potential spread of Covid-19 in schools.
The leaked messages have highlighted the conflicts and disagreements that occurred within the UK government during the pandemic response. It also raises concerns about the security of private communications between government officials. The revelations may lead to questions about the effectiveness of the UK government's response to the pandemic and how decisions were made regarding the reopening of schools.
In conclusion, the leaked WhatsApp messages have brought to light a significant disagreement within the UK government about school closures during the pandemic. The messages, written by former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, revealed his opposition to the reopening of schools in January 2021. The revelations have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the UK government's response to the pandemic and the security of private communications between government officials.
MENAFN09032023000045012476ID1105738530
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.