Former health secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed he will publish Covid diaries giving his “unique perspective” of the coronavirus pandemic. He is promising a “unique and candid account of Britain’s battle to turn the tide”.
Mr Hancock will “reveal the crucial moments of the struggle to save lives” despite more than 170,000 deaths, publishers Biteback said. The diaries will be published later this year and Mr Hancock’s royalties will be donated to NHS charities, reports the Mirror.
The West Suffolk MP, who stepped down after breaking social distancing rules in a steamy clinch with an aide on CCTV, will offer “an honest assessment of the lessons we need to learn for next time – because there will be a next time,” a press release said.
But the account will not be without controversy because Mr Hancock has been accused of fronting a chaotic response to the pandemic. Supporters argue he pushed harder for lockdown than other Cabinet ministers who wanted to keep the economy open.
But former Downing Street aide Dominic Cummings claimed the Health Secretary promised patients would be tested in care homes, promising a protective ring around patients - only for the virus to run rampant and kill tens of thousands in care.
Mr Cummings said last year: “The government rhetoric was ‘we put a shield around care homes, blah blah blah’ - that was complete nonsense. Quite the opposite of putting a shield round them, we sent people with Covid back to the care homes.”
Mr Cummings told MPs Mr Hancock "should have been fired for at least 15-20 things" and accused him of “lying to everybody on multiple occasions." In response, Mr Hancock has previously denied the claims, saying: “These unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true. I've been straight with people in public and in private throughout."
However, the diaries will give Mr Hancock a chance to put across his side of the story before a public inquiry in the spring. It has pledged to publish any reports in "a timely manner", though many fear this will not happen until the next election.
Draft Terms of Reference do not name Boris Johnson or promise to look at the individual behaviour of the Prime Minister. But it vows to investigate government preparations and "how decisions were made, communicated and implemented."
It will also spotlight events in the disastrous month before lockdown was imposed on March 23, 2020. More than 20,000 people have demanded the terms of reference are changed as part of a consultation.
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