Hancock's indiscretion could cost him millions

He is certainly covered by government protection, he is politically dead anyway so why waste time holding him to account.

Those whose data have been breached are entitled to high court protection. It is neither a waste of time or principle.

Does that mean the tax payer has got to pay his legal fees along with Johnson’s?

God knows.

My thoughts are too rude to post.

Why would anyone trust Oakeshott with anything?

I thought Isabel Oakeshott leaked the messages.
But why trust her? She’s a journalist!

maddyone

I thought Isabel Oakeshott leaked the messages.
But why trust her? She’s a journalist!

Hancock leaked the messages to Oakeshott.

Hancock appears to have very few brain cells.

maddyone

I thought Isabel Oakeshott leaked the messages.
But why trust her? She’s a journalist!

What’s sad about this is that no MP is likely to share confidential information with a journalist again, I’m certainly not defending his actions, but it was a very serious breach of confidentiality and trust on her part.

It is Hancock who has broken the law.

Hancock will have signed up to the Secrets Act and the Data Act article 6.

Casdon

maddyone

I thought Isabel Oakeshott leaked the messages.
But why trust her? She’s a journalist!

What’s sad about this is that no MP is likely to share confidential information with a journalist again, I’m certainly not defending his actions, but it was a very serious breach of confidentiality and trust on her part.

Confidential information is very different to what Hancock has done.

I appreciate that, and as I said I’m certainly not defending him. It’s the impact of her action on the trust in future of other MPs in journalists that I was expressing concern about as well, not instead of.

I worked beside Isabel Oakeshott for a short time when she was just starting out as a young reporter, and even then, you could see she was destined for higher things. She was ruthlessly ambitious and very sure of herself - far more so than I was at that stage in my career. Love her or hate her, she is good at her job and she gets the scoops which editors love.

It is because oakeshott is a journalist that she almost certainly won’t be sued as she will argue (successfully) that she released the information in the public interest.

She has said it is in the public interest and it should be.
Hancock being indiscreet is nothing new. He is a "yesterday" man now and I am glad that he is.

'What’s sad about this is that no MP is likely to share confidential information with a journalist again.'

No MP, or anyone else, should share confidential information with anyone.

eazybee

'What’s sad about this is that no MP is likely to share confidential information with a journalist again.'

No MP, or anyone else, should share confidential information with anyone.

That will make writing memoirs tough, she was working with him on his Pandemic Diaries book - but you’re right of course.

Listening to Sheila Fogarty at the moment. She began today's programme with a 20 minute monologue about the contempt in which the government holds us and having to wait 18 months for a general election. It was heartfelt and powerful and, if you are interested, you could listen to her on catchup.

Is that LBC?

I think it is clear how much contempt they have for us from the leaked files.

Is it at all possible that Hancock wanted it all leaked?

maddyone

I thought Isabel Oakeshott leaked the messages.
But why trust her? She’s a journalist!

She is a lot more than a journalist!!! How anyone could trust her- is truly beyond me. She is a really nasty piece of work.

fancythat

Is it at all possible that Hancock wanted it all leaked?

Then he would be a bigger fool than anyone could imagine

Why did MPs ever think it was a good idea to chat on WhatsApp?

Bizarre behaviour

Oakeshott will have sabotaged her professional standing. She will be vilified by some folk and lauded by others. Personally I feel her action in revealing all has given us, the general public a wider understanding of what really was going on between Ministers and their SPADs.

Isn’t she married to Richard Tice from Reform (previously UKIP)? Ulterior motives at play I suspect.

Matt Hancock gave the messages to Ms Oakeshott as they collaborated on his memoirs. But she subsequently handed them to the newspaper, which has published a series of stories based on the communications with fellow ministers and officials.

This is after signing a legal none disclosure agreement

I wonder how much she got from the newspaper