Matt Hancock has been pictured today for the first time since his private WhatsApps were leaked, giving Britons an extraordinary glimpse of behind-the-scenes ministerial wrangling during Covid.
The disgraced former health secretary tweeted a picture of himself with MP Lucy Frazer, his political neighbour, after an “important meeting” to discuss “the regulation of traffic at junction 37 of the A14”.
It came hours before The Daily Telegraph’s latest revelation that Mr. Hancock offered advice on how the pandemic could “promote” his career to the next degree, just two days before Britain recorded its first ever cases.
The message, written by an unnamed “wise friend,” claimed that a “benign crisis of this magnitude can propel you to the next degree and crack you in terms of public perception.”
Other bombshell texts today revealed that Mr. Hancock also praised his own actions in a MailOnline story in which he carried a rugby ball “covered in mud” through a London park a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson left the country and asked to stay at home . .
He told his adviser, who called the story “ridiculous” and tried to downplay the video footage: “I think I look great!”
The disgraced former health secretary tweeted a picture of himself with MP Lucy Frazer, his political neighbour, after an “important meeting” to discuss “the regulation of traffic at junction 37 of the A14”.
Matt Hancock was seen carrying a rugby ball through a north London park this afternoon, a day after Boris Johnson asked the nation to ‘stay home this weekend’.
On January 29, he sent a message to his media adviser Jamie Njoku-Goodwin that Hancock said came from a “wise friend”. It said the former health secretary had been “well received so far” and that a “crisis of this magnitude, handled well, can propel you into the next class and burst into public perception”. The unidentified person who sent him the message urged Mr Hancock to think about how he wanted his handling of the crisis to be remembered and how he would project those qualities.
The latest reports show that Mr. Already in January 2020, Hancock reflected on how the pandemic could help his career.
On January 29, he sent a message to his media adviser Jamie Njoku-Goodwin that Hancock said came from a “wise friend”.
It states that the former health minister “has come across well so far” and describes him as “calm, confident and honest”.
The anonymous sender urged Mr Hancock to think about how he wants his handling of the crisis to be remembered and how he wants to convey those qualities.
The message urged Mr Hancock to “show the Prime Minister that you are his extremely capable lieutenant without a showboat” and “show him that you care about him, not you”.
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The exchange took place two days before the first cases were recorded in the UK, a 23-year-old student from the University of York and his 50-year-old mother, who arrived in the UK from China.
Further WhatsApp exchanges show that Mr. Hancock’s reputation remained on the public’s radar.
Emma Dean, one of the then Health Secretary’s special advisers, sent him a link to a December 29 YouGov poll, the most popular Conservative poll.
Mr Hancock replied: “F*** that’s good.”
What the survey revealed is unclear. But in January 2021, a month later, he finished fourth 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 walking around a London park.
Exclusive footage, captured on January 16, shows how Mr. Hancock “covered in mud” carrying a rugby ball through Queen’s Park, north London.
It was taken a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the public to “think twice” before leaving home and acting like they have Covid.
Mr Poole said it was “ridiculous” and suggested telling this website: “Matt was outside in accordance with rules of practice.”
Mr Hancock replied: “If you need a line, say: ‘As you can see, Matt has been training.'” He added: “I think I look great!”
In May 2021, he advised his team to reach out to Gina Colangelo, his married assistant, with whom he was caught having an affair just a month later involving his PR affairs.
Footage obtained by The Sun in 2021 shows Mr. Hancock and Ms. Colangelo kisses, in violation of social distancing rules in place at the time.
Emma Dean, one of the then Health Secretary’s special advisers, sent him a link to a December 29 YouGov poll, the most popular Conservative poll. Mr Hancock replied: “F*** that’s good”
In another text in January 2021, Damon Poole, Special Media Advisor, told Mr. Hancock said he had just received a call from MailOnline about footage of the former Health Secretary walking in a London park.
In May 2021, he advised his team to reach out to Gina Colangelo, his married assistant, with whom he had an affair just a month later involving his PR affairs.
Mr Poole has mr. Hancock asked if he “said yes to pictures of you surfing”. He replied: “Yes. Don’t you think so? You can talk to Gina and decide. I understand the risks.”
Mr Poole has mr. Hancock asked if he “said yes to pictures of you surfing”.
He replied: “Yes. Don’t you think so? You can talk to Gina and decide. I understand the risks.”
The Telegraph also reported that Mr. Hancock controls “almost every post” sent from his Twitter account.
When Social Affairs Secretary Helen Whately tried to discuss PPE supplies to care homes in April 2020, he sent her five messages.
In comparison, he sent 72 messages to the team responsible for managing his Twitter account on the same day, according to the newspaper.
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 he will edit and “delete” tweets from his team before sharing them.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
