The journalist who published thousands of Matt Hancock’s WhatsApp messages left a radio interview after being questioned as to why she leaked the story to the Daily Telegraph.
Isabel Oakeshott, TalkTV’s international editor, broke a non-disclosure agreement to leak thousands of messages sent by Hancock, which she had access to through co-writing his book, the Pandemic Diaries.
Oakeshott clashed with Cathy Newman on Friday during a Times Radio interview, in which Newman questioned Oakeshott on her decision to work with the Telegraph on the story, rather than her colleagues at TalkTV or affiliated papers the Times, the Sunday Times and the Sun.
Newman had asked whether it was fair that “producers and reporters on a fraction of your salary were having to kind of put up with your sloppy seconds, and follow up on the story in a rival newspaper”, making reference to her £250,000 salary.
Oakeshott replied: “I’m just not going to go down this route Cathy,” adding: “I think people are much more interested in what the investigation reveals.”
“Most of our listeners won’t know the individuals that you’re referring to,” said Oakeshott. “I think that it’s kind of absurd that you should be quoting wild figures about my contract with any news organisation. That’s my business, it’s not yours.”
Newman continued with the line of questioning, with Oakeshott repeatedly threatening to hang up. “I’m going to terminate the interview. This is my last warning, OK,” she said.
She then accused Newman of being “unprofessional”, and in turn asked her how much she was paid by Times Radio.
“I haven’t hit the headlines. You’ve hit the headlines, Isabel,” Newman said. “Well, maybe if you broke some stories you would,” Oakeshott replied.
The interview ended when Oakeshott hung up halfway through a question about her protection of her sources.
On Thursday, Oakeshott said her relationship with Hancock deteriorated after he went on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! in the middle of co-writing his book with her.
On Saturday, more WhatsApp messages were published which revealed how Hancock attempted to save his career after footage emerged of him having an affair with his aide Gina Coladangelo
