Matt Hancock Considers All Legal Options Over Leaked WhatsApp Messages About Nursing Home Testing

Sign up for Inside Politics email for your briefing free daily on the biggest stories in British politicsGet our free Inside Politics emailPlease enter a valid email addressPlease enter a valid email addressI would like to be notified by email about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice{{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}An error has occurred. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

Matt Hancock has rejected advice to test all residents entering English nursing homes for coronavirus, an investigation based on a leak of more than 100,000 WhatsApp allegations.

MP denied 'twisted account' with spokesperson alleging messages leaked by journalist Isabel Oakeshott after working on her Pandemic Diaries memoir were 'twisted to fit into an anti-lockdown programme".

The Telegraph's investigation claims that Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty told the then Health Secretary in April 2020 that there should be tests for 'all going into care homes'.

But the posts suggest Mr Hancock has rejected the advice, telling an aide this decision only makes " muddying the waters" and introduced mandatory testing for those coming from hospitals.

< p>M. Hancock expressed concern that expanding care home testing could "hinder" the goal of 100,000 daily coronavirus tests he was desperate to hit, the investigation gation.

< p>A spokesman for Mr Hancock said the former health secretary was "considering all options" in response to the leak, with a source close to him telling the AP news agency: "She has broken a legal NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Her behavior is outrageous."

The spokesperson said: "Having not been approached in advance by the Telegraph, we have reviewed the messages overnight.

"The Telegraph intentionally excluded any reference to a meeting with the WhatsApp testing team. This is essential, because Matt supported Chris Whitty's advice, held a meeting on his deliverability, said it was not deliverable and insisted on testing everyone who came from hospitals.

"The Telegraph has been advised that their headline is false, and Matt is considering all options available to him.

"This major error by Isabel Oakeshott and the Telegraph shows why the appropriate venue for an analysis like this is the Inquiry, not a party, agenda-driven leak of confidential documents."

The "lockdown records" investigation also contains:

– Allegations that officials sent Jacob Rees-Mogg a Covid test for one of his children when there was a shortage.

– Mr Hancock told former Chancellor George Osborne, then editor of the Evening Standard, "I WANT TO HIT MY TARGET!" as he pushed for favors...