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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Nadeem Badshah

Matt Hancock wanted to ‘frighten everyone’ into following Covid rules

Matt Hancock Simon Case Isabel Oakeshott England
Police officers stand on duty beneath a sign reading ‘Testing to Commence’, at the entrance to the Port of Dover in Kent, southeast England, on 23 December 2020.
Police officers stand on duty at the entrance to the Port of Dover in Kent on 23 December 2020. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

Matt Hancock told aides he wanted to “frighten the pants off everyone” to ensure compliance with Covid-19 restrictions, according to the latest batch of leaked messages which reveal discussions over when to “deploy” details of a new strain.

The WhatsApp exchanges suggest the then health secretary and others discussed how to use an announcement about the Kent variant of the virus to scare the public into changing their behaviour.

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