Newly released WhatsApp messages in The Telegraph show Hancock sharing a message about how the pandemic could propel his career Matt Hancock shared advice with his media adviser about how the Covid-19 pandemic could propel him “into the next league”, newly released WhatsApp messages show.
In January 2020, Mr Hancock messaged his special adviser, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, with advice from a “wise friend” about his performance so far and how he could use the pandemic to his political advantage. At this time, news of the deadly virus was emerging but Covid-19 cases in the UK were in single figures.
In the message, the friend appears to say: “a well handled crisis of this scale could propel you into the next league, and break you through in terms of public perception”, before advising Hancock to ask himself questions about how to do that. “1. How do you want your handling of this crisis to be remembered? And how will you project those qualities?
“2. How can you show the PM you’re his ultra competent, non showboaty lieutenant in this? What can you offer him? Get him to chair cobra? What else, to show him you’re looking out for him, not you?”