‘Does Rishi want to stop the virus or show his ankle to the hard Right?’
Leaks reveal health secretary opposed the chancellor over calls for looser curbs and accused Treasury officials of hostile briefings
THE Lockdown Files reveal tensions between the Treasury – the domain of the then chancellor Rishi Sunak – and the Department of Health headed by Matt Hancock.
Behind the scenes, debates raged over new Covid restrictions and regulations, while at the same time trying to keep the economy going. Mr Sunak appeared to question the need for certain measures, prompting Mr Hancock to ask: “What’s Rishi’s dilemma? Whether to stop the virus, or tilt at the party & show ankle to the hard Right?”
The Daily Telegraph had published a front page story headlined “Sunak: New lockdown would inflict terrible harm” and Mr Hancock, with lockdown looming, was alarmed at opposition coming from his chancellor colleague.
The Lockdown Files hint at a distinct tension between Mr Sunak and Mr Hancock during the pandemic. Mr Hancock and his team also regularly accused the Treasury of briefing against them. The health secretary made direct pleas to Mr Sunak to get the briefings of his “allies” against him stopped.
At one stage Mr Hancock described Steve Barclay, at the time the secondmost senior minister in the Treasury but now health secretary in the Sunak administration, as a “w----r” while also ridiculing Mr Sunak’s flagship Eat Out to Help Out scheme as “Eat out to help the virus get about”.
Publicly the Government presented a united front, pulling in the same direction to plot a course through the pandemic. Behind the scenes there were seeming rivalries being played out in the jockeying for the prime minister’s ear, perhaps exacerbated by Boris Johnson’s flip-flopping on strategy.
Mr Hancock had hoped for a comeback when Mr Sunak took over as prime minister in October 2022. But instead the new prime minister ignored his old adversary, famously snubbing him outside Conservative headquarters, after his election as party leader.
In June 2020, the Sunday Telegraph’s political editor Edward Malnick published a story claiming Mr Sunak had issued warnings over spending being out of control in the key departments of education and health – including the cost of the contact tracing app – as they tried to combat the crisis.
In a conversation with Jamie Njokugoodwin, Mr Hancock’s special adviser, the health secretary wonders who the source is and speculates it could even be Mr Barclay, who at the time was chief secretary to the Treasury.
Matt Hancock
Whoever brief this has made a big mistake [Includes link to Telegraph article – Frustrated Sunak warns wasteful ministers to get a grip on spending]
[20/06/2020, 21:22:05]
Matt Hancock
I spoke to Rishi. He is horrified [20/06/2020, 21:34:45]
Jamie Njoku-goodwin
Malnick came to me late [20/06/2020, 21:42:43]
Jamie Njoku-goodwin
Right. On spending generally.
A Department for Health source said “We won a landslide election after campaigning on a raft of key health commitments, and have spent the past six months dealing with a devastating global pandemic – so of course there are spending implications. But we have an excellent working relationship with Rishi and his team, and think they have all been doing a terrific job in unprecedented circumstances.”
If you are going to use this, can you use the whole thing, not just the first sentence [20/06/2020, 21:43:11]
Jamie Njoku-goodwin
On the app: “Rather than launch an untested product, we made sure to develop and test both our app and the Apple/google platform – and after finding issues with both approaches, we are working on finding a solution. This is exactly how you should approach complex system delivery projects, and is an exemplary way of developing new technology.”
[20/06/2020, 21:43:11]
Jamie Njoku-goodwin
These are the two source quotes I gave to Malnick. Tried to be reasonable but robust, without escalating [20/06/2020, 21:43:56]
Matt Hancock
Your quote is pitch perfect. If asked by any others play down and say the story is bollocks. There’s no rift and it hasn’t come from anyone who knows Rishi’s mind [20/06/2020, 21:45:02]
Jamie Njoku-goodwin
Yup – I told Malnick that our working relationship at a political level is excellent, and I assumed it was just officials making mischief. He didn’t push back too strongly... [20/06/2020, 21:46:05]
Matt Hancock
Yep. Or Steve Barclay. W------. Trying to be all clever about spending control. [20/06/2020, 21:46:58]
Three days later on June 23, 2020, there is a new dispute, this time over whether restaurants should be forced to register the names of diners for contact tracing. Alok Sharma, the business secretary, has changed the wording from customers “should” register to “can” register, a stance that Mr Sunak approves of.
Mr Hancock tells Simon Case, at the time the official in charge of the Covid response, that he can’t understand why Mr Sharma is “against controlling the virus” while Mr Case tells him “rishi is going bonkers” about the health secretary’s determination to change the wording back to “should”.
Matt Hancock
The language on customer logs has just gone from “should” to “can”. Grateful if you can fix – we can’t reverse this at the last minute! [23/06/2020, 10:35:27]
Matt Hancock
The opening up of the economy following the Covid-19 outbreak is being supported by NHS Test and Trace . You *can* assist this service by keeping a temporary record of your customers and visitors and provide this when requested by NHS Test and Trace for contact tracing and the investigation of local outbreaks [23/06/2020, 10:36:05]
Simon Case
Alok blocking “should” [23/06/2020, 10:36:07]
Simon Case
Will need to fix after this meeting [23/06/2020, 10:36:24]
Matt Hancock
Well I’m blocking “can” and the PM comcluded thus yesterday! [23/06/2020, 10:36:25]
Simon Case
Okay. I think this is about to be resolved in Cabinet..!
[23/06/2020, 10:36:46]
Matt Hancock
Great [23/06/2020, 10:36:52]
Simon Case
If Alok mad enough to raise it, PM will probably be clear again [23/06/2020, 10:37:26]
Simon Case
I will have to get the PM to opine on “should” vs “can” after the meeting if we have to. [23/06/2020, 10:50:30]
Simon Case
I’m sure he will go for “should” [23/06/2020, 10:50:58]
Matt Hancock
I think he concluded in agreement with me – and he certainly did yesterday [23/06/2020, 10:51:02]
Matt Hancock
[thumbs-up emoji] [23/06/2020, 10:51:09]
Matt Hancock
Question I can’t understand is why Alok is against controlling the virus. Strange approach
[23/06/2020, 10:52:17]
Simon Case
Pure Conservative ideology [23/06/2020, 10:53:01]
Matt Hancock
[laughing emoji] [23/06/2020, 10:53:06]
Simon Case
Rishi going bonkers about “should” right now too
[23/06/2020, 10:53:20]
Matt Hancock
BTW after today the next step is to set out our local lockdown strategy [23/06/2020, 10:54:18]
Simon Case
Must be. And we need to do a large-scale exercise with a willing area to show how it will work
[23/06/2020, 10:54:59]
Matt Hancock
Agreed. PM has just agreed with Chris – so decision made [23/06/2020, 10:55:59]
Simon Case
Let’s see whether he stands firm when Rishi raises it
[23/06/2020, 10:57:07]
Simon Case
After Cabinet! [23/06/2020, 10:57:19]
Matt Hancock
Please communicate my & CMO’S very strong view. This – plus winter funding – is the necessary price of the liberation! [23/06/2020, 11:01:02]
Simon Case
There is a more material point here – we want to make this a requirement, but make it one that businesses can manage. I think that is what we have to communicate [23/06/2020, 11:01:27]
Simon Case
I think he will agree “should” [23/06/2020, 11:01:49]
Matt Hancock
Exactly. But this stupid negotiation from BEIS makes it much harder to do that [23/06/2020, 11:02:01]
Simon Case
[23/06/2020, 11:12:21] Imran just emailing. He has agreed “should” but also clear that we will work with industry to make this practically workable
[23/06/2020, 11:12:21]
Sunak’s flagship scheme, Eat Out to Help Out, comes in for criticism next from Mr Hancock in further discussions with Mr Case, including the scheme fuelling Covid cases
Matt Hancock
Just want to let you know directly that we have had lots of feedback that Eat our to help out is causing problems in our intervention areas. I’ve kept it out of the news but it’s serious. So please please lets not allow the economic success of the scheme to lead to its extension
[24/08/2020, 18:33:18]
Simon Case
Have you told Rishi? [24/08/2020, 20:49:19]
Simon Case
I don’t think he can afford to extend it! [24/08/2020, 20:49:34]
Matt Hancock
Yes we’ve told treasury – we’ve been protecting them in the comms & thankfully it’s hasn’t bubbles up [24/08/2020, 21:30:03]
Simon Case
I don’t know whether you have used it, but last week, at home, restaurants were insanely packed in the early week and then totally deserted in second half of the week [24/08/2020, 21:37:17]
Matt Hancock
Yes it was a joy using it and being thanked by the other diners! [24/08/2020, 22:05:06]
The health secretary ridicules the scheme again in December in conversation with his special adviser Mr Njokugoodwin:
Jamie Njoku-goodwin
Sorry I’m just in middle of dinner! Can I call you back in 20? [03/12/2020, 19:59:51]
Matt Hancock
Jamie Njoku-goodwin
Not any more, all thanks to Rishi... [03/12/2020, 20:02:23]
Matt Hancock he hasn’t launched another eat out to help the virus get about has he? [03/12/2020, 20:03:01]
Jamie Njoku-goodwin
Got to give the virus a fighting chance, given how well you’re doing with vaccines and testing right now... [03/12/2020, 20:05:41]
In October 2020, amid much talk of plans for a “circuit breaker” – effectively a second lockdown – and rising Covid cases, The Telegraph published on its front page a story suggesting Mr Sunak was warning against “rushing to another lockdown”. The newspaper – published on Oct 15 – “dropped” the night of Oct 14, prompting Mr Hancock to question Mr Sunak’s motives in Whatsapp messages shared with Damon Poole, his media adviser. On Oct 15 Mr Hancock made a statement to parliament, announcing tougher local Covid measures. “Delayed action means more deaths from Covid,” he told MPS:
Matt Hancock
What do No10 make of Rishi’s tilting? [14/10/2020, 22:21:38]
Damon Poole
Not spoken with them about Tel splash, I pointed out various bits of quite unpleasant HMT briefing to him last night to which he said:
“They aren’t subtle are they”
Have also spoken with CO [Cabinet Office] spads who have been raising it with no10. They are obviously sympathetic to Rish’s
dilemma but I think they are starting to get pretty frustrated. [14/10/2020, 22:23:31]
Damon Poole
Him being jack [Jack Doyle Downing St press secretary] [14/10/2020, 22:23:58]
Matt Hancock
What’s Rishi’s dilemma? Whether to stop the virus, or tilt at the party & show ankle to the hard right? [14/10/2020, 22:26:59]
Matt Hancock
I think I need to go hard on “delayed action means more economic pain” tmrw [14/10/2020, 22:27:41]
Damon Poole
I agree [14/10/2020, 22:27:55]
Damon Poole
Unemployment is starting to skyrocket [14/10/2020, 22:28:38]
Matt Hancock
Not as high as if we have to do a full f-----lockdown thanks to action being blocked now! [14/10/2020, 22:29:10]
Damon Poole
Yeh totally, the irony will be HMT attempts to fight local lockdowns will probably end up causing the more severe, longer lasting lockdown. [14/10/2020, 22:30:17]
Matt Hancock
BUT how to get that into the narrative? [14/10/2020, 22:32:40]
Damon Poole
I think everyone knows it [14/10/2020, 22:33:06]
Matt Hancock
Then why the skewed coverage? EG the Telegraph front page care home story is bonkers. We are literally putting people into isolation units! [14/10/2020, 22:35:44]
Damon Poole
Because the papers don’t want to accept reality [14/10/2020, 22:36:02] A little over two weeks later, Mr Hancock is alarmed that Mr Sunak appears to be in a room with Mr Johnson while he has been forced to dial in remotely under rules drawn up to prevent Cabinet ministers being forced into isolation at the same time in the event of a positive Covid test. At the time the Government is four days away from announcing a second national lockdown to commence on Nov 5. Mr Hancock is deeply concerned Mr Sunak is trying to persuade Mr Johnson to implement a less stringent policy, expressing his alarm to Mr Case, who has by now been appointed Cabinet Secretary and who is dialling in from home and alarmed about his own broadband. Mr Hancock fears a “rearguard action that has screwed us all too often”. Mr Sunak questions the need to shut down “non-essential retail” and Mr Case admits privately that “we have no evidence” that shops spread the virus. Mr Hancock responds that he “can live with that” – as in trying to keep shops open – but non-essential retail is shut down anyway on Nov 5.
Matt Hancock
Are you planning on discussing our overall strategy in this meeting? [30/10/2020, 11:48:40]
Simon Case
Definitely not in dashboard. My (rural) broadband terrible, so I can’t actually hear what is going on, but certainly plan earlier had been to use this to set out data – and then give him time later to think about next steps [30/10/2020, 11:49:54] Matt Hancock When then? Rishi is in the room – contrary to the stupid rules – so the PM will be under enormous pressure to not do enough once again [30/10/2020, 11:56:37]
Simon Case
I don’t know what is happening in the room – I am 90 miles away. Rishi has already resigned himself to the choice ahead – I spoke to him earlier. He is relatively open on regional or national (not least because regional is so wide that impact is pretty similar to national now). His only question (and a fair one) is about non-essential retail – where obviously we have no evidence of transmission. He thinks better to do something in secondary schools (where we know transmission takes place) instead of closing all shops (where we know it doesn’t seem to) [30/10/2020, 12:05:01]
Matt Hancock
I can live with that – but I am very worried about a rearguard action that has screwed us all over too often [30/10/2020, 12:07:23]
Simon Case
From the conversation I had with the PM after you, my concern is that the PM is less convinced of need for action than Rishi! He was really kicking back [30/10/2020, 12:08:54]
Matt Hancock
Even more need for me to be in the room! [30/10/2020, 12:09:21]
Simon Case
That discussion about getting tests to Liverpool might swing him though. He might be able to see a way through now [30/10/2020, 12:09:33]
Simon Case
The whole thing is a total pain – impossible to operate like this! [30/10/2020, 12:10:01]
Matt Hancock
You need to end the rule that Cabinet Ministers can’t attend meetings. It is humiliating and counter productive. [30/10/2020, 12:11:30]
Simon Case
Sort of. Accept it is one way to stop you all having to isolate after one mtg if one of you goes down with it again! [30/10/2020, 12:12:48]
Simon Case
Am now back on with the boss. Rishi not in the room [30/10/2020, 12:13:04] On Dec 18, 2020 – the day before Mr Johnson “cancelled Christmas” for millions of people – Mr Sunak pleads for the coming lockdown – a non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) – to be lifted by February on the basis of advice from Sage, the scientific advisory body. Mr Hancock is having none of it in a conversation between the pair.
Matt Hancock
I should take you through the latest on vaccine rollout timing and the interaction with mortality reduction. But this is about a few more months & the indications for AZ are good [18/12/2020, 21:51:40]
Rishi Sunak
That’s not what I was told the SAGE emerging thinking seems to be, so positive if true that we can release NPIS in Feb. [18/12/2020, 21:53:43]
Matt Hancock
Not in Feb – I said we have to hold firm in Jan and Feb. And this is NOT a SAGE call – it’s a political call [18/12/2020, 21:55:04]
Rishi Sunak
How many people will be vaccinated by end Feb? [18/12/2020, 21:56:03]
Matt Hancock
Depends how fast AZ will produce, but >10m second doses is my current working assumption. That gets us to the over 70s [18/12/2020, 22:11:43]
Matt Hancock
Grateful for a call when you have a moment [27/12/2020, 17:30:26] Less than a month later – in January 2021 – a row is brewing over plans to introduce a £500 payment for people being forced to self-isolate in England. At the time the scheme was restricted to people on low incomes. Health officials had wanted to expand the policy but the Treasury was baulking at the predicted cost of half a billion pounds a week. The Sun newspaper said “allies” of Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson had been critical of the “half baked idea” after an official policy paper marked “official sensitive” was leaked to the press after being circulated at a Covid-o meeting of senior ministers and officials. Mr Hancock, in conversations with Dan Rosenfield, Mr Johnson’s chief of staff is furious.
Matt Hancock
The leak of this self isolation payment paper is a f------ nightmare. We have asked [Simon] Case for an inquiry – but we also need to seriously restrict the number of people in these conversations. We’ve been discussing this policy bilaterally with HMT for months. As soon as it goes in a covid-o paper it leaks. [21/01/2021, 22:33:40]
Dan Rosenfield
It is a total nightmare. Am furious. Talking to Simon [Case]. Totally s---. [21/01/2021, 22:34:40]
Matt Hancock
Yes. Just spoken to him. Need an inquiry and to massively tighten the whole covid-o infrastructure. [21/01/2021, 22:37:16]
Matt Hancock
On the isolation payment leak, this line from HMT is completely untrue – we’ve been talking to them about this for months “the Treasury had no idea it existed until it appeared in the press. One source said the department was “flummoxed” by the suggestion, adding “First we’ve heard, and frankly a mad idea.” [22/01/2021, 08:40:09]
Matt Hancock
FYI I spoke to the boss & told him about the NERVTAG finding that new variant is more deadly – suggest we go through at Dashboard. [22/01/2021, 08:48:11]
Matt Hancock
Whoever thinks this is clever needs to stop [22/01/2021, 12:02:52] Mr Hancock warns Mr Sunak to stop his “allies” briefing against him but gets no response by Whatsapp that The Telegraph is aware of.
Matt Hancock
Evening. This leak of the paper on isolation payments is a nightmare. Everything that goes to Covid-o leaks at the moment. We should discuss these things direct and come to an agreement privately instead of risking this sort of behaviour. [21/01/2021, 22:30:47]
Matt Hancock
Stop your “allies” from briefing against me. [includes link the Sun article – Allies of Boris Johnson & Rishi Sunak slam ‘half baked idea’ to hand every Brit £500 for getting Covid] [22/01/2021, 11:59:30] Mr Hancock tells Jack Doyle, the No 10 press secretary, the leak has “so obviously” come from the Treasury who need “to pull their horns in”.
Matt Hancock
Question I can’t understand is why Alok is against controlling the virus. Strange approach 23/06/2020, 10:52:17] Simon Case Pure Conservative ideology
Matt Hancock
Just want to let you know directly that we have had lots of feedback that Eat our to help out is causing problems in our intervention areas. I’ve kept it out of the news but it’s serious. So please please lets not allow the economic success of the scheme to lead to its extension [24/08/2020, 18:33:18] Matt Hancock he hasn’t launched another eat out to help the virus get about has he? [03/12/2020, 20:03:01]
Matt Hancock
When then? Rishi is in the room - contrary to the stupid rules - so the PM will be under enormous pressure to not do enough once again [30/10/2020, 11:56:37]
Matt Hancock
You need to end the rule that Cabinet Ministers can’t attend meetings. It is humiliating and counter productive. [30/10/2020, 12:11:30] Matt Hancock [to Rishi Sunak] Stop your “allies” from briefing against me. [22/01/2021, 11:59:30] [23/06/2020, 10:53:01]