No 10 denounces Hancock plan to secure MP’S support with threat to disability hub
DOWNING STREET has rebuked Matt Hancock after it emerged he had discussed a plan to block funding for a new disabled centre to pressure a Tory MP to back lockdown restrictions.
Leaked Whatsapp messages between the then-health secretary and his political aide show how they discussed taking a plan for a learning disability hub in Bury, Gtr Manchester, “off the table” if James Daly voted against the Government in December 2020.
Asked whether this was not the way Rishi Sunak would like his ministers to operate, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Of course. There are rules and guidelines which apply.”
They said: “I can’t speak for the actions of a former government. I think you heard from the Prime Minister who said it’s important that the inquiry looks at all the issues in a complete way rather than relying on piecemeal bits of information.
“You will know that funding decisions are taken in line with strict guidelines to ensure value for money set out in the spending framework, and ministers’ departments are held accountable for their decisions.”
Mr Hancock’s message came ahead of the vote on Dec 1, 2020, on the introduction of a toughened local tiers system of restrictions for England.
Allan Nixon, Mr Hancock’s political aide overseeing relations with MPS in Parliament, messaged his boss with a suggestion of how to ensure the backing
‘This clearly shows he would do anything to get his own way, or that he was drunk on power’
of as many Tory MPS as possible from the 2019 intake.
In a message to Mr Hancock, sent on Nov 22, 2020, Mr Nixon said: “I think we need to dangle our top asks over some of these 2019 intake MPS who are going off the boil this coming week.
“Thoughts on me suggesting to Chief ’s spads that they give us a list of the 2019 intakes thinking of rebelling. Eg James wants his Learning Disability Hub in Bury – whips call him up and say Health team want to work with him to deliver this but that’ll be off the table if he rebels. These guys’ re-election hinges on us in a lot of instances, and we know what they want. We should seriously consider using it IMO.” Mr Hancock replied: “Yes 100%”. Mr Daly – whose constituency is the most marginal in the UK mainland with a majority of just 105 – told The Daily Telegraph he was “appalled” and “disgusted” that the disability hub in Greater Manchester, for which he had been campaigning, had been discussed as a way of coercing him into voting with the Government.
He said he had never been contacted by the Whips’ Office and no threat to block the scheme had been made.
Jake Berry, Tory MP, told Times Radio yesterday: “What he has effectively said is that he wants to weaponise provision of care for disabled children to force MPS to vote in a certain way.
“This clearly shows someone who is prepared to do anything to get their own way or someone who is drunk on the power of ordering people round and telling people what to do.”