Health Secretary's alleged false claims
Matt Hancock, the former Health Secretary, has been criticized for allegedly promising a Covid masterplan that didn't actually exist, according to testimony heard during the inquiry. Helen MacNamara, a former Whitehall boss, stated that Hancock repeatedly told Cabinet members about the existence of a pandemic blueprint. However, MacNamara said she never received these plans and couldn't understand why they were never provided.
Wrong claims and resignation
MacNamara also mentioned that Hancock's claims about the country's preparedness for the pandemic turned out to be false just a few weeks later. The Health Secretary gained further notoriety when he resigned after it was revealed that he had broken lockdown rules by having an affair with a top aide.
Boris Johnson's response and mocking of Italians
During her testimony, MacNamara criticized Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his response to the Covid crisis. She claimed that Johnson was "laughing at the Italians" during meetings, displaying a casual and confident attitude towards the virus. She described the atmosphere as "jovial" and "breezy." MacNamara also stated that she felt patronized for raising concerns about the threat posed by Covid. In her witness statement, she mentioned facing sexism as a woman in No10 during Johnson's administration.
Controversial email and Cummings' rant
MacNamara's concerns about a "macho environment" were highlighted in an email she sent in April 2020. She described it as a "substantial problem" and expressed her observations about the minimal speaking time given to women in important meetings. Additionally, it was revealed that Dominic Cummings, the former chief advisor to Johnson, launched a derogatory rant against MacNamara, using offensive language and calling for her removal.
Cummings later apologized for his language, and the inquiry also uncovered texts in which Johnson accused him of orchestrating a media campaign against his wife, Carrie.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://hellofaread.com/politics/former-commons-speaker-betty-boothroyd-leaves-over-3-7-million-to-friends-and-charities/
