Matt Hancock is being done up like a Kipper!

[JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil]

This (Cummings testimony) is starting to sound like a proper set up.

People were joking last year that Hancock would be made the fall guy for everything.

[quote newnortherner111]@Lelliebellieboo I agree with you in a way. Have considered Matt Hancock to be a decent person overpromoted and out of his depth, as opposed to being a nasty human being such as Boris Johnson or Priti Patel.[/quote]
That worked until it came out that he and his sister had invested in a company that had a fat NHS contract.

And then there is also the problem of his very iffy relationship with the truth.

They are all going to lie, tell half truths and obfuscate. The idea that Cummings is less trustworthy or more of a liar than Boris is laughable. They are absolutely as bad as each other.

Cummings has an axe to grind, for sure, and but he also knows where the skeletons are kept. Not everything he says will be a lie, even those bits which are self-serving. I’d look at what he says quite closely, with a healthy big of scepticism- I bet there will be quite a lot to worry this government in there. I think it is quite telling that they tried to mount a smear campaign against him not so long ago, ahead of this appearance. They’ve had months to accuse him of being the person behind those leaks, yet only bothered now.

I think if you take all of the statements made by differing sides you could probably patch together something close to the truth.

Has anyone ever looked at Matt Hancock and thought, "Well, he seems like a competent man"?

Poor sod's a patsy.

He is admitting that they didn't test the ones coming back from hospital to care homes. They did t have the tests available.

Hancock saying that he didn't watch Cummings' testimony because he was busy 'saving lives' kills any tiny ember of sympathy I might have had for him. That's the kind of claim that would even make David Brent blush.

Obviously certain decisions could have been better, which is always the case with hindsight, and the whole thing needs to be investigated but it does seem that he is being made the scapegoat.

As for DC, I'm always suspicious of someone who only changes their tune when the pay check stops.

@CuriousaboutSamphire
Maybe we, the Great Unwashed, will start looking at out politicians and expect something different now...

If only we might start soon in all Political Parties.

@AFS1

The whole thing is fascinating to watch. Particularly interesting to watch the people that sanctified Cummings and Johnson for Brexit, now having to choose between the two of them as they attempt to tear each other apart.

It’s so interesting ! Reminds me of a modern day Tudor/Cromwell saga from Hilary Mantel.

@jasjas1973

I see Hanocks shortfalls based upon incompetence, not malicious sociopathy. I don't think any health minister would have managed this situation well - he essentially inherited an archaic organisation that hasn't been fit for purpose for decades

I ve always been prepared to accept that in the early days of the pandemic, any govt would be out of their depth, so mistakes are made....
But then came the Autumn, rising rates, LD fiasco, Xmas, Schools, keeping the India UK border open.. even now!

So i think if Hancock and others, really were decent people, out of their depth, they'd step aside but they haven't so i think they are just power hungry sociopaths

He’s a least worst option in a selection where all the other options are really really terrible.

I’m also not completely convinced he realises he’s going to be the scapegoat to deflect blame from Johnson eventually. If I were him, I’d be a bit less worried about what Cummings is saying and a bit more worried about by Boris is defending me.

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Hancock is definitely set up to be the fall guy. B. Johnson already recognised his incompetence when he appointed Nadhim Zahawi to be in charge of the vaccination programme even though Hancock claims almost every time he speaks as if he's in charge. Cummings said yesterday that Hancock was being kept to be the fall-guy when the enquiry is held . . . and I think he's right. BJ needs Hancock to be the fall-guy.

He deserves it he takes credit when things go well even though he’s had little or no input and claims to be guided by the science when it’s bad news.
The man’s one of Boris’s yes men.

Why anyone ever votes tory is beyond me, they should all be thrown under a speeding bus. They are all culpable in everything that wasn't planned for. Including no PPE as the stocks kept for such an emergency were allowed to go out of date instead of being changed out for newer stock. Contracts awarded to unsuitable companies (the cronyism is real). Companies including medical ones being ignored when they tried to offer help back in March 2020. Even when it was offered for free. There is a whole catalogue of errors that needs investigating now. hancock should go along with the rest of them. There needs to be a vote of no confidence in the government and possibly the labour opposition as well.

That Sky News clip where he runs away is hilarious.

Yeh, any first year film student or member of the much-dissed Media Studies degree courses could do better than that. It’s slapstick. We all know Downing Street has at least one private entrance.

It shows the contempt that they have for the public that they think it’s in any way believable.

I don't think things have changed at all - there has never been much morality in whatever government as they are all self-serving for their career advancement rather than thinking what is best for the country.

Have you seen the leaked letter about Dilyn the dog ? ( it's the daily Mail today online ) It goes to show that Carrie wasn't worried much about a pandemic or a possible lockdown either!
How many more leaks will there be ?

It was clear to me that Cummings was out of his depth - hubris having led him to believe he could lead the Government, a lazy and incompetent prime minister having delegated power to him. This whole debacle demonstrates the danger of concentrating power in the hands of one man. Boris has extended the reach of no 10 over the entire Government- but decisions are being made by inexperienced SPADs with little or no knowledge of the subject matter, having overruled those civil servants who actually do understand what they are doing. Cummings and Boris are equally to blame, but Boris bears a greater responsibility as PM and therefore his abject failure to engage with the crisis was more egregious. I hope that the media does not lose sight of this and continue to scapegoat Matt Hancock (despite the fact he was clearly was not up to the demands of the job).

@the80sweregreat

Have you seen the leaked letter about Dilyn the dog ? ( it's the daily Mail today online ) It goes to show that Carrie wasn't worried much about a pandemic or a possible lockdown either! How many more leaks will there be ?

Cummings is just putting the boot in. He clearly detests the woman and has an axe to grind.

He has already publicly said that the vaccination programme was taken from the DoH because it was viewed as incompetent and too slow. Ironic considering the 1918 pandemic led to it being set up to give a coordinated approach to public health matters.

' was clear to me that Cummings was out of his depth - hubris having led him to believe he could lead the Government'

He does seem to be an egomaniac and had been privy to an awful lot of stuff, obviously being a senior advisor he would be, but why didn't they kick him out ages ago. Again, I wasn't bothered by his BC trip for the reasons he gave at the time, but he comes across as a right unpleasant arrogant twat, why was he ever in such a senior position.

The dangerous thing with politicians is they’ll never admit or recognise mistakes they make so will continue to make the same ones again. Honestly, we deserve so much better than these crooks.

Presumably because he got Boris what he wanted - Brexit and GE success. He understood how to use SM and manipulate. He's a arch manipulator which is one of the reasons I think we're being played now.

@JaniieJones

' was clear to me that Cummings was out of his depth - hubris having led him to believe he could lead the Government'

He does seem to be an egomaniac and had been privy to an awful lot of stuff, obviously being a senior advisor he would be, but why didn't they kick him out ages ago. Again, I wasn't bothered by his BC trip for the reasons he gave at the time, but he comes across as a right unpleasant arrogant twat, why was he ever in such a senior position.

He is out of depth but good at messaging which was a big part of Brexit win then GE

Johnson maybe gave him too much rope though

It was clear to me that Cummings was out of his depth

Hold on, he is an advisor, that's it, he doesn't sign off on policy and if he really is this incompetent, then blame who a: appointed him and b: listened to him?
But that wont happen, yet to meet a tory voter who regrets their vote.

Personally, he ran a brilliant Brexit campaign (i wish to god remain had hired him) said that the referendum was a stupid idea and also that most Tory MPs couldn't care less about the NHS... so he's not wrong about everything :)

@DogsSausages

He enjoyed the power, it was taken away now he is bitter, angry and trying to win support. Horrible little man, shame he didnt have the balls to speak out or quit at the time.

10000% agree with you.

I can’t stand the scruffy bitter little oik!

This thread was on my Watching section on Mumsnet.
Interesting to read in light of what we now know of Matt Hancock.