Ministers feared ‘racist’ label over Covid restrictions
Hancock’s Cabinet colleague worried over riots if they locked down areas with large Asian populations to curb rapid rise in cases
Ministers feared that Covid was spreading more rapidly among non-compliant communities but were worried they would be labelled “racist” if they highlighted the issue, leaked messages show.
Matt Hancock was told by a Cabinet colleague that there could be “race riots” if he locked down “white working-class” areas when the virus was spreading fastest in neighbouring ones where the rules restricting social gatherings were not being followed.
One Tory MP told the Prime Minister that restrictions were fuelling “race relation issues” because his constituency of Shipley had been included in a local lockdown aimed at Bradford “even though there are barely any cases in my constituency”.
Leaked Whatsapp messages reveal concerns that the Government was “very white” and attempts were made to use ministers including Kemi Badenoch, Priti Patel and Nadhim Zahawi to make the case on issues that affected black and Asian communities.
One of the biggest concerns surrounding race was the implementation of local lockdowns in the summer of 2020, when the virus was feared to be spreading in largely deprived, densely populated areas with large Asian populations living in intergenerational households.
The health secretary had worried that he would appear “racist” for locking down only communities which were seeing a surge in coronavirus levels while neighbouring towns had lower numbers.
Nadine Dorries said: “We can’t put whole towns and villages with extremely low R rates in lockdown (our voters) and deprive those people of work and family bcse [because] of the behaviour of non-compliant communities.”
The health minister, who appears to be commenting to her boss on the sidelines of a larger online meeting on Aug 20, reminded him of the “race riots” in Burnley in the early 2000s.
She warned that the “white working class” ward of Colne, in Pendle, would be like a “tinder box” if its 18 pubs closed because of “noncompliance” in the Pakistani community in Nelson next door.
National lockdown had come to an end on July 4 and been replaced by targeted local measures in areas with high prevalence.
Mr Hancock had already attempted to dodge public questions about whether Eid had played a part in introducing last-minute restrictions in areas of the north-west announced the night before the festival began.
On August 20, ministers were considering fresh interventions in Oldham, Pendle, and Blackburn as the epidemiological data showed that cases were getting out of control in certain areas.
Ms Dorries said that the arguments that they were having with local leaders about targeting specific wards had become “political”, because in effect it would mean locking down areas which were more likely to vote Labour.
In 2019 the Conservative P arty had made inroads into traditional Labour-voting communities in the North-winning swathes of so-called “Red Wall” seats.
Matt Hancock
I don’t want to be called a racist but we’ve got to name it
[20/08/2020, 10:23:52]
Nadine Dorries MP
Can I speak ? [20/08/2020, 10:24:02]
Matt Hancock
Yes [20/08/2020, 10:25:44]
Matt Hancock
Next. Sorry I didn’t have my chat open [20/08/2020, 10:25:54]
Nadine Dorries MP
We can’t put whole towns and villages with extremely low R rates in lockdown (our voters) and deprive those people of work and family bcse of the behaviour of non compliant communities [20/08/2020, 10:46:22]
Nadine Dorries MP
Well said! [this appears to be a reaction to something said in a Zoom call] [20/08/2020, 10:49:30]
Matt Hancock
Can’t believe they haven’t done the work! [20/08/2020, 10:50:08]
Nadine Dorries MP
It’s political. Andy Burnham Will not agree nor will any of the MPS or any of Oldham leaders. They will be locking down their voters and setting ours free. We have to be seen to be doing the right thing or the red wall seats will start to crumble. Next issue is what powers we have to impose this should they refuse [20/08/2020, 10:53:57]
Matt Hancock
we can impose [20/08/2020, 10:54:20]
Nadine Dorries MP
[thumbs up emoji] [20/08/2020, 10:54:31]
Nadine Dorries MP
this is wrong [20/08/2020, 18:14:56]
Nadine Dorries MP
there are parts of shipley woht no train line to bradgord
[20/08/2020, 18:15:14]
Nadine Dorries MP
the connectivity is all Leedsd facing [20/08/2020, 18:15:25]
Matt Hancock
I’ve spoken to Philip Davies – he is not happy it didn’t happy this weeek – but happy there’s a process. I told him that given he’s got a veto, it’s actually very good for him [20/08/2020, 19:56:44]
Nadine Dorries MP
Ok – but when council leaders don’t budge... [20/08/2020, 20:17:13]
Nadine Dorries MP
I’m speaking to Andrew Stephenson tonight re Pendle
[20/08/2020, 20:17:31]
Matt Hancock
Then it comes to us for decision [20/08/2020, 20:19:10]
Matt Hancock
Thanks [20/08/2020, 20:19:15]
Nadine Dorries MP
Remember the Burnley race riots? I was working as Oliver Letwin’s Spad at the time. Andrew very concerned at his LA CEOS stance that any restrictions should be one size fits all, across the constituency. The town ward of Colne, 18 pubs, white working class would be like a tinder box if it’s pubs closed bcse of non compliance and infection rates in Nelson, 2 pubs, Pakistani community next door. [20/08/2020, 21:01:59]
At the time of the conversation, Pendle and other areas in the North West were already under local restrictions which banned people from socialising with other households in private homes and gardens.
The following day, the Government announced that swathes of Oldham, Pendle and Blackburn would be subject to tighter restrictions.
People in seven wards covering Nelson and Brierley were banned from socialising with anyone outside their household and asked to avoid public transport for all but essential travel.
The number allowed to attend weddings and funerals was restricted to 20 and restaurants were told to operate a reservation system for a maximum of six people.
Colne escaped the additional restrictions in the wake of Ms Dorries’ warning.
The decision to target those restrictions at an individual ward level came after warnings from Philip Davies, the Tory MP for Shipley, that blanket local restrictions had been affecting race relations, an issue he raised with the prime minister.
Boris Johnson
PM, I am desperate to speak to you about the decision of the govt to include my constituency in the local lockdown on Bradford – even though there are barely any cases in my constituency. This is causing a massive issue and is fuelling huge race relations issues. This needs to be resolved ASAP. I would be very grateful if you could find the time to discuss with me. This is toxic locally. PD [message from Philip Davies] [07/08/2020, 17:55:50]
Boris Johnson
From Shipley [07/08/2020, 17:55:56]
Boris Johnson
Have talked to him and told him that we have to do some untidy stuff to beat the virus but Matt he would def appreciate some attention [07/08/2020, 17:57:03]
The Bradford lockdown which Mr Davies was referring to had been imposed the evening before Eid, effectively cancelling the festival for thousands of Muslims.
Though the announcement of the lockdown on parts of West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and East Lancashire was made at the 11th hour, Mr Hancock had been aware that there was a looming issue for at least 10 days.
Baroness Dido Harding, who led the Government’s test and trace programme, told him that she was “really worried about Eid”, noting that the “geographic spread is in all the same communities.”
Dido Harding
Indeed. I am really worried about Eid. The geographic spread is all in the same communities [20/07/2020, 12:46:34]
Matt Hancock
Yes. Now we’ve caught his eye on things potentially going in the wrong direction, we need to press home this. A proper urgent analysis of who is catching it is critical. Who do we have doing the real-time analysis? Which academics are working on it? This is why publication of the data is so vital [20/07/2020, 12:57:55]
Dido Harding
We have a lot of the analysis on who is catching it.. will get Clare to share asap and also which academic groups she is working with. [20/07/2020, 13:04:06]
Matt Hancock
yes terrific – and as much insight as possible please – I’d love to see that [20/07/2020, 13:07:33]
On June 30, a lockdown was announced that had forced the communities to cancel their celebrations at the last moment.
Mr Hancock publicly denied that Eid had played a part in decisions about what restrictions to impose.
The following morning, he went on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, and when asked if it was a factor he replied: “No – my heart goes out to the Muslim communities in these areas because I know how important the Eid celebrations are.”
Later that day, a reporter at this paper asked a similar question, and Mr Hancock was adamant that they should not say that Eid had an impact.
Allan Nixon
I’ve not taken journo calls in Jamie’s today, but have got Harry Yorke at Tele asking if Eid played a factor in our decision making. You ok with off the record me saying “By no means the central factor in the decision but of course we’re conscious of the impact these decisions will have on these communities” [31/07/2020, 13:19:35]
Matt Hancock:
No [31/07/2020, 13:21:42]
Matt Hancock
Very much no. Don’t give them that [31/07/2020, 13:21:57]
Allan Nixon
Ok [31/07/2020, 13:22:15]
The series of top-level ministerial conversations leaked to The Daily Telegraph show race relations was a frequent issue.
On June 2, a report by NHS England had found that people of black, Asian and minority ethnic [BAME] origin were at higher risk of death from coronavirus than white people.
Lord Bethell, who at the time was health minister, asked four days later what they were doing to deal with the issues.
He said that “Kemi is great”, apparently in reference to Kemi Badenoch, who is of Nigerian descent, but noted that as a group of politicians “we are very white”.
James Bethell: Marketing and comms.
1. Rockpools (generally). epidemiologists say when the tide goes out it leaves rockpools of infection. Homeless. BAME. Sex workers etc. Tom Riordan is a local tsar. We need a rockpools tsar? And targeted marketing (not sure DH or PHE has the skills, we need new expertise). And recruitment of stakeholders to help sell in the message
2. BAME (specifically). I got duffed up again on race in lords. Lots of #BLM stuff from the digital red benches. I did a meeting afterwards with a couple of peers. I guided them away from a broad brush attack and towards a focus on health disparities. But my political danger radar is pinging. it means we really need a upgrade our health inequalities agenda. The stuff from NHS/DH seemed pretty thin. Kemi great, but who’s holding this in dept, Jamie? – we are very white? I can nudge but cannot “own”. [06/06/2020, 10:19:54]
Ten days later there was an urgent question on what was being done to address the disproportionate effect on certain communities. Kemi Badenoch, the women and equalities minister who is of Nigerian descent, was asked to answer it, messages between Mr Hancock’s “Top Team” of advisers and civil servants show. It appears that Allan Nixon, Mr Hancock’s parliamentary special adviser, suggested warning Ms Badenoch that if she did not answer the question her future appearances at the Dispatch Box in the House of Commons would be at risk. It was suggested that Jo Churchill, a health minister, was the alternative to answer the question.
CIVIL SERVANT
Just had UQ on: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care what recommendations Public Health England has made regarding increased risks of black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) people catching and dying of covid-19; and what action the Government has taken accordingly [16/06/2020, 08:33:04]
CIVIL SERVANT
(One for Jo C?) [Jo Churchill] [16/06/2020, 08:33:09)
CIVIL SERVANT
Or push to GEO? [16/06/2020, 08:33:29]
Matt Hancock
Kemi [16/06/2020, 08:34:47]
Allan Nixon
There’s another debate on BAME deaths re covid that Jo tried unsuccessfully to get Kemi to take. She should make the argument that if Kemi wants to stand at the dispatch box in a couple of months and say what a great job she’s done on her review, then she needs to take these debates now... [16/06/2020, 08:37:17]
What was said to Ms Badenoch remains unclear, but she pushed back against the suggestion, conversations later that day reveal.
Ed Taylor
Kemi has pushed back and supposedly has No10 on her side. I’ve been pushing to everyone who will listen that Jo C doing this is a _terrible_ idea not only optically, but substance wise too.
It’s a minefield that I don’t think she will emerge well from.
We have very few options... I also don’t understand why we have a GEO if they aren’t leading these things. [16/06/2020, 17:00:31]
It wasn’t the last time that Cabinet ministers from ethnic minority backgrounds were relied upon to spread coronavirus messaging to certain communities. Priti Patel’s offer of help on “BAME & vaccine” was readily accepted and in June 2021 Boris Johnson’s office asked Iraqi-born Nadhim Zahawi to take on a coronavirus press conference. Mr Hancock warned his media special adviser Damon Poole that it could appear “patronising”.
Damon Poole
By the way no10 want Zahawi to do a presser on bame uptake on Wednesday, I’ve told them that if the framing of this is done wrong it will be massively counterproductive but just to let you know [21/06/2021, 18:50:24]
Matt Hancock
yes I think it looks patronising but he would love to do a presser so let’s not kill it [21/06/2021, 18:52:28]
Damon Poole
Exactly [21/06/2021, 18:52:38]
Damon Poole
Will support it but make sure it’s done right [21/06/2021, 18:52:49]
Despite their interventions, Lord Bethell was concerned that they were still failing on the messaging. He noted that politicians such as Ms Dorries were reaching out to the affected communities, but they were “not the right people”. He suggested that they were appealing to the white middle classes who shop in Waitrose and they should be looking to appeal to people who listen to Kiss FM, a dance-music station. Kiss FM’S largely urban demographic is 15 to 34-yearolds.
James Bethell
3. I know it’s an awkward subject, but i am concerned about the consistent cross-over from coronovirus and BAME issues. and I am worried we’re not getting good advice. the marketing to BAME is not good – very waitrose and not kissfm. our stakeholder outreach from tom and nadine is nice, but they’re not the right people. our political antenana is not right – jamie is great, but not expert. i really want to flag this is as its both an epidemeological and a political risk. [02/07/2020, 07:55:52]
Lord Bethell later suggested that they need a “counter extremist academic” or “one of the agencies that work on Prevent” to recruit voices who could talk to Muslim communities that “don’t trust royal colleges”.