Matt Hancock says he opposed 'crazy' Covid plan to free 'thousands' of prisoners
Former health secretary who just came out of the I'm A Celebrity jungle says officials 'insisted' on releasing detainees so to ease the pressure on the system during the first national lockdown
Matt Hancock says officials were 'insisting' on releasing detainees (
Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock
Matt Hancock has claimed he opposes 'crazy' plans to release 'thousands' of non-violent prisoners - just days before the first Covid lockdown.
The former health secretary turned reality TV addict says the talks reached number 10, where he made his 'clear' opposition clear to Boris Johnson.
His comments appear in an excerpt from his upcoming book Pandemic Diaries and after his lucrative stint on ITV's I'm a Celebrity.
The shameless MP who was stripped of the Tory Whip has been called to resign for deserting the Commons for the Australian jungle.
In an entry five days before the first nationwide lockdown on March 17, 2020, posted by Mr Hancock discussed plans for prisons.
He wrote: "A crazy proposal from the Department of Justice to let the prisoners out, because they would be easier to manage if they are not in prison.
"Yeah, really: they actually thought it might be a spectator."
The following month, on April 3, Mr Hancock said authorities were "still insisting" on releasing the prisoners to ease the strain on the system.
He added, "I keep writing 'NO' in big letters on submissions asking me to sign. Obviously the public won't wear it, but the idea just keeps going. and come on paper.
“After about the third iteration, I called [Justice Secretary] Rob Buckland, who, to my amazement, told me he had been advised that it was me who wanted to release them ."
“Unfortunately that still wasn’t the end of the matter. Obviously someone in Whitehall still thought it was a good idea and kept pushing it, to the point where the Prime Minister asked to speak to both of us. I made my point crystal clear."
The Ministry of...
Former health secretary who just came out of the I'm A Celebrity jungle says officials 'insisted' on releasing detainees so to ease the pressure on the system during the first national lockdown
Matt Hancock says officials were 'insisting' on releasing detainees (
Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock
Matt Hancock has claimed he opposes 'crazy' plans to release 'thousands' of non-violent prisoners - just days before the first Covid lockdown.
The former health secretary turned reality TV addict says the talks reached number 10, where he made his 'clear' opposition clear to Boris Johnson.
His comments appear in an excerpt from his upcoming book Pandemic Diaries and after his lucrative stint on ITV's I'm a Celebrity.
The shameless MP who was stripped of the Tory Whip has been called to resign for deserting the Commons for the Australian jungle.
In an entry five days before the first nationwide lockdown on March 17, 2020, posted by Mr Hancock discussed plans for prisons.
He wrote: "A crazy proposal from the Department of Justice to let the prisoners out, because they would be easier to manage if they are not in prison.
"Yeah, really: they actually thought it might be a spectator."
The following month, on April 3, Mr Hancock said authorities were "still insisting" on releasing the prisoners to ease the strain on the system.
He added, "I keep writing 'NO' in big letters on submissions asking me to sign. Obviously the public won't wear it, but the idea just keeps going. and come on paper.
“After about the third iteration, I called [Justice Secretary] Rob Buckland, who, to my amazement, told me he had been advised that it was me who wanted to release them ."
“Unfortunately that still wasn’t the end of the matter. Obviously someone in Whitehall still thought it was a good idea and kept pushing it, to the point where the Prime Minister asked to speak to both of us. I made my point crystal clear."
The Ministry of...
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