🗣 Matt Hancock shared a memo from a “wise friend” about how his career could be propelled “into the next league” by the Covid pandemic in January 2020, shortly after the first cases of the virus emerged in China.
🔴 Throughout the course of the pandemic, officials and ministers wrestled with how to ensure the public complied with ever-changing lockdown restrictions.
One weapon in their arsenal was fear
🗣 “We frighten the pants off everyone,” Matt Hancock suggested during one WhatsApp message with his media adviser telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/0…
🇺🇦 Bakhmut’s mayor has said Russian forces are turning Bakhmut into Mariupol as Ukrainian troops face “severe pressure” from Russian shelling in the city today
Stay up-to-date with the latest here ⤵️
🇷🇺 Russia's defence minister has inspected the front line in eastern Ukraine and awarded troops on a rare visit to the country as the battle of Bakhmut intensifies
🔴 Mr Hancock and Mr Sunak were at odds during the pandemic over the extent of lockdown measures, with the then health secretary in favour of tighter restrictions than the then chancellor.