London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Aug 31, 2025

Covid Inquiry: Matt Hancock Suggests Earlier Lockdown Could Have Preserved School Openings

Matt Hancock believes earlier government action in autumn 2020 might have prevented school closures in January 2021. During the Covid inquiry, the ex-health secretary mentioned that delaying lockdown resulted in more stringent measures later.
He also claimed that Rishi Sunak, the then-Chancellor, influenced Boris Johnson to not take sufficient action, which was apparent in Hancock's October 2020 WhatsApp messages. Hancock also accused some local Manchester authorities, including Mayor Andy Burnham, of hindering efforts to implement local restrictions.

The Covid inquiry is scrutinizing decisions from September 2020 as cases rose post-summer. Another WhatsApp exchange showed Hancock being excluded from a meeting and expressing concerns that Johnson, being influenced by Sunak, would not act decisively. Simon Case replied with Sunak's openness to some restrictions, particularly in secondary schools.

Hancock, now a West Suffolk MP, had to resign in June 2021 after violating social distancing regulations. His resignation came after he was caught kissing aide Gina Coladangelo, an incident he admits may have eroded public trust.

He reminisced that taking action sooner in September 2020 could have averted later school closures. By January, the virus situation worsened to the extent that the government took several drastic steps, which were particularly detrimental to disadvantaged children.

In October 2020, a tier system was launched to manage the outbreak, with varying rules based on local case numbers. Hancock viewed the plan with skepticism, believing it wouldn't be effective due to insufficiently strict measures and delays caused by complex local negotiations.

He singled out Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson for commendation on their collaboration, despite causing confusion by mistakenly implying Anderson had passed away. Anderson humorously reassured everyone of his vitality via social media.

Hancock affirmed his criticisms were specific to local leadership in Manchester, not the city itself, following friction over financial support amid tier three restrictions.

Reflecting on the communication dynamics of the UK's devolved governments, Hancock found Nicola Sturgeon's premature announcements problematic and praised the collaborative spirit seen in discussions with other health ministers.

The inquiry will continue, expecting testimonies from prominent figures like Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak by year's end. Nicola Sturgeon has testified but is slated for further appearances as public hearings advance until 2026.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
Ukrainian Nationalist Politician Andriy Parubiy Assassinated in Lviv
Corporate America Cuts Middle Management as Bosses Take On Triple the Workload
Parents Sue OpenAI After Teen’s Death, Alleging ChatGPT Encouraged Suicide
Amazon Faces Lawsuit Over 'Buy' Label on Digital Streaming Content
Federal Reserve Independence Questioned Amid Trump’s Push to Reshape Central Bank
British Politics Faces Tumultuous Autumn After Summer of Rebellions and Rising Farage Momentum
US Appeals Court Rules Against Most Trump-Era Tariffs
UK Sought Broad Access to Apple Users’ Data, Court Filing Reveals
UK Bank Shares Dive Over Potential Tax on Sector
Germany’s Auto Industry Sheds 51,500 Jobs in First Half of 2025 Amid Deepening Crisis
Bruce Willis Relocated Due to Advanced Dementia
French and Korean Nuclear Majors Clash As EU Launches Foreign Subsidy Probe
EU Stands Firm on Digital Rules as Trump Warns of Retaliation
Getting Ready for the 3rd Time in Its History, Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for Teenagers
Argentine President Javier Milei Evacuated After Stones Thrown During Campaign Event
Denmark Confronts U.S. Diplomat Over Covert Trump-Linked Influence in Greenland
Starmer Should Back Away from ECHR, Says Jack Straw
Trump Demands RICO Charges Against George Soros and Son for Funding Violent Protests
Taylor Swift Announces Engagement to NFL Star Travis Kelce
France May Need IMF Bailout, Warns Finance Minister
Chinese AI Chipmaker Cambricon Posts Record Profit as Beijing Pushes Pivot from Nvidia
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
Ukraine Finally Allows Young Men Aged Eighteen to Twenty-Two to Leave the Country
The Porn Remains, Privacy Disappears: How Britain Broke the Internet in Ten Days
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Welcome to The Definition of Insanity: Germany Edition
Just a reminder, this is Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris.
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
×