Hancock still a laughing stock as Treasury makes light of Whatsapp leak scandal

THE Treasury has released a video on social media mocking Matt Hancock’s leaked Whatsapp messages as part of its promotion of the Budget.

A 58-second clip posted to the department’s Twitter account was labelled “contemptuous” after satirising The Lockdown Files, the investigation published by The Telegraph this month.

More than 100,000 messages from Mr Hancock and other key figures, which were sent during the pandemic, formed the basis of revelations that have prompted questions about whether ministers ignored scientific advice in their response to Covid.

In the post, the Treasury Twitter account wrote: “Breaking News: Spring Budget Whatsapp Files leaked. Share the scoop with your family and friends on Whatsapp.”

It mocked up a group chat between the Treasury and other departments, including Education, Transport, and Culture, Media and Sport, presenting major funding announcements as a series of messages. They included “no voice notes” and “Love this, #Budget4growth”.

The video ended with an animated image of Rishi Sunak leaping out of his seat and punching the air.

The tweet included a link that generates a Whatsapp message linking to the video, which read: “The government held the Spring Budget today, here are some of the headlines.”

Dr Duncan Robertson, a policy and strategy academic at Loughborough University, described the video as “contemptuous”.

Aamer Anwar, a lawyer for Scottish families whose relatives died in the pandemic, wrote: “It wouldn’t be [funny] if you were one of the Covid Bereaved Families reading how their loved ones’ lives were sacrificed to meet targets.”

In the Commons, the Chancellor said he had discussed doctors retiring early with Mr Hancock, joking he “kindly took a break from Whatsapping his colleagues to consider it”.