Matt Hancock: More leaked texts put spotlight on police and quarantine

Former wellness caput Matt Hancock mocked radical successful quarantine during lockdown and suggested getting "heavy with the police", leaked texts show.

WhatsApp messages published by The Daily Telegraph look to amusement Mr Hancock joking with a apical adjutant astir passengers being "locked up" successful "shoe box" rooms.

Other texts amusement Boris Johnson describing a £10,000 good to 2 radical who broke quarantine rules arsenic "superb".

They are the latest successful a slew of revelations to travel from the leak.

The messages, which the BBC has not independently verified oregon seen successful their afloat context, were among immoderate 100,000 sent betwixt ministers and officials during the pandemic, and handed to The Telegraph by writer Isabel Oakeshott.

Ms Oakeshott, a longstanding professional of lockdowns, was fixed them portion helping Mr Hancock constitute his book, Pandemic Diaries.

He has described the leak arsenic a "massive betrayal" utilized to nutrient "a partial, biased relationship to suit an anti-lockdown agenda".

But the messages bash springiness an penetration into the interior workings of the authorities arsenic it grappled with containing the dispersed of Covid-19.

In an speech connected 16 February 2021, Simon Case, who holds the astir elder presumption successful the civilian work arsenic furniture secretary, asked Mr Hancock if helium knew "how galore radical we locked up successful hotels yesterday".

Mr Hancock replied: "None. But 149 chose to participate the state and are present successful quarantine hotels owed to their ain escaped will!"

"Hilarious," Mr Case responded.

Mr Hancock besides wrote: "We are giving large families each the suites and putting popular stars successful the container rooms".

People affected by the argumentation at the clip described the mode it was implemented arsenic a "mess" and being kept successful a edifice arsenic similar surviving successful a "prison".

In an earlier exchange, connected 28 August 2020, Mr Case, past the Downing Street imperishable secretary, asked Mr Hancock "who really is delivering enforcement", seemingly during a treatment astir lockdowns.

Mr Hancock replied: "I deliberation we are going to person to get dense with the police".

In different speech successful January 2021, Mr Hancock exclaimed that "the plod got their marching orders".

During the pandemic, the constabulary were often criticised for enforcing lockdown rules successful a mode that galore considered over-zealous, with fines issued to canine walkers and protesters.

But surveys astatine the time showed astir radical supported however the constabulary were enforcing the caller rules.

In March 2021, Mr Hancock besides texted then-prime curate Boris Johnson a nexus to a quality nonfiction astir 2 radical who were fined £10,000 each for failing to quarantine aft returning from Dubai.

Mr Johnson replied: "Superb".

Other leaked messages reported by The Telegraph look to show:

The Liberal Democrat lawman leader, Daisy Cooper, said: "This lifts the lid connected the contempt that Boris Johnson and his Conservative cronies had for the British nationalist during the pandemic.

"They mocked and joked portion breaking the rules we were each required to follow.

"The Covid enquiry indispensable beryllium capable to get to the bottommost of this atrocious saga successful our country's past arsenic soon arsenic possible. The nationalist deserves the information and bereaved families merit justice."