UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock expressed his ‘disappointment’ and sadness over what he termed as a ‘huge betrayal and breach of trust’ by journalist Isabel Oakeshott who released WhatsApp messages from his time as Health Secretary to the Daily Telegraph.
Oakeshott had initially been given the exchanges by Hancock for a book about the pandemic.
The leaked messages featured many high profile personalities including the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty.
The messages shed light on the inner workings of the government during their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Isabel Oakeshott, who co-wrote the former Health Secretary’s Pandemic Diaries, Wednesday doubled down on her claim that Mr Hancock sent her a ‘threatening’ message after the texts were released – a claim he denied.
In clashes with presenter Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said her responsibilities ‘are now to the public interest’ as she defended the publication of the correspondence in the Daily Telegraph.
She added that it would have been wrong to ‘sit on’ the treasure trove of private messages between government figures.
He denied having sent Ms Oakeshott a ‘somewhat menacing’ message in the early hours of Wednesday morning, insisting he just told Ms Oakeshott it was ‘a big mistake – nothing more’.
Hancock said: ‘I am hugely disappointed and sad at the massive betrayal and breach of trust by Isabel Oakeshott.
‘I am also sorry for the impact on the very many people – political colleagues, civil servants and friends – who worked hard with me to get through the pandemic and save lives.’
Explaining the message he sent to his co-author, Mr Hancock said: ‘Last night, I was accused of sending menacing messages to Isabel. This is also wrong.
‘When I heard confused rumours of a publication late on Tuesday night, I called and messaged Isabel to ask her if she had ‘any clues’ about it and got no response.
‘When I then saw what she’d done, I messaged to say it was ‘a big mistake’. Nothing more.’
