PM branded Hancock ‘hopeless’ in ex-aide’s text

BORIS Johnson described Matt Hancock as “totally f****** hopeless” during the early stages of the pandemic, concerned by the UK Health Secretary’s promises on testing, according to text messages published by Dominic Cummings.

The former aide, who published a slew of bombshell documents and messages online yesterday, also claimed that the Prime Minister will step down after the next election to “make money and have fun”.

Downing Street has refused to comment on Mr Cummings’s claims and would not confirm whether they believed the exchanges were indeed from Mr Johnson or whether they were considering legal action against the ex-adviser.

Asked yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he would not comment on “every allegation” made by Mr Cummings.

However, he rebuked the former aide’s assertion that Mr Johnson “has a clear plan to leave [Downing Street]”, describing the claim as “utter nonsense”.

Number 10 also insisted that the Prime Minister has absolute full confidence in Mr Hancock, despite the messages.