FORGOTTEN HISTORY: 12 | History Defined

Ministers’ confusion about Covid rules caused resentment among police – ex-chief

Matt Hancock and senior officials discussed the need to ‘get heavy’ with the police over enforcing lockdown measures, leaked messages show.

The Independent UK · Mar 3, 2023

Country’s most senior civil servant Simon Case mocked holidaymakers ‘locked up’ in Covid quarantine hotels

The UK’s most senior civil servant mocked travellers who were being “locked up” in quarantine hotels during the Covid pandemic, according to leaked WhatsApp messages published by the Telegraph.

Evening Standard · Mar 3, 2023

Airlines and airports ‘horribly self-serving’ during Covid, says top civil servant in leaked messages

‘I just want to see some of the faces of people coming out of first class and into a premier inn shoe box,’ Sir Simon Case joked of hotel quarantine

The Independent UK · Mar 3, 2023

Matt Hancock WhatsApp leaks: Ministers discussed need to ‘get heavy’ with police over Covid rules

Conversations between the former health secretary and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case have come to light

Wales Online · Mar 3, 2023

Ministers joked about locking up travellers to UK in quarantine hotels during pandemic

Matt Hancock's leaked messages reveal that ministers and officials made jokes about people arriving in the UK during the Covid pandemic being locked up in quarantine hotels

Daily Mirror · Mar 3, 2023

Ministers wanted to ‘get heavy’ with police over Covid rules

Leaked messages from ex-health secretary Matt Hancock suggested Whitehall concern over enforcement of lockdown restrictions.

The Independent UK · Mar 2, 2023

Ministers joked about ‘locking up’ travellers to UK during Covid pandemic

Minsters exchanged messages about those who were required to stay in allotted quarantine hotels

Evening Standard · Mar 2, 2023

Matt Hancock wanted to ‘get heavy with police’ to enforce lockdown, say leaked messages

‘Plod got their marching orders’, said then-health secretary after meeting with Boris Johnson and officers

The Independent UK · Mar 2, 2023

Facemasks introduced in English schools to ‘avoid argument’ with Nicola Sturgeon, leaked files suggest

Face masks were introduced in schools for the first time after Boris Johnson was told it was “not worth an argument” with Nicola Sturgeon over the issue, leaked files suggest.

Evening Standard · Mar 1, 2023

‘Vaccine sceptics’ gather at the Carlton Club, traditional home of the Tory party

The champagne reception was hosted by Andrew Bridgen MP, who had the whip removed for comparing vaccination to the Holocaust

Evening Standard · Feb 20, 2023