Reactions have poured in after Dominic Cummings leaked Whatsapp texts from prime minister Boris Johnson.
The leaks show Johnson called PPE a “disaster” in April last year – and that he was considering replacing health secretary Matt Hancock with Michael Gove.
The texts also show Johnson asking Cummings ‘what the f*ck do we do’.
Immediately after the leak Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner called for a public inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic.
Neil Coyle, Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said: “So we know now that Johnson agreed with many in the NHS and care workforce, that Hancock was ‘hopeless’. So why did he leave him in post putting more lives at risk?
“Johnson dodges tough decisions, even when they are on life and death issues. Hopeless Hancock, feckless Johnson.”
So we know now that Johnson agreed with many in the #NHS & care workforce, that Hancock was “hopeless”. So why did he leave him in post putting more lives at risk?
— Neil Coyle (@coyleneil) June 16, 2021
Johnson dodges tough decisions, even when they are on life & death issues. Hopeless Hancock, feckless Johnson. https://t.co/P13qEYp2SC
And SNP member Alex Paterson asked why Johnson didn’t sack Hancock. “Countless more people died needlessly.”
A question to @BorisJohnson: if @MattHancock was ‘fucking hopeless’ (your words), why didn’t you sack him? In not doing so, countless more people died needlessly #BorisOut #MattMustGo https://t.co/rqjJOGNZWm
— Alex Paterson ??????????? (@AlexPatersonSNP) June 16, 2021
Reactions
Since the leak social media has been abuzz with reactions.
Times Radio presenter Stig Abell said: “Say what you like about Cummings, but who does not absolutely believe the Prime Minister conducts meetings like this?”
And LBC producer Ava-Santina asked: “Dom, u up?”
Prime minister WhatsApping “wtf do we do?” to his unelected advisor about decisions during a pandemic I love leadership ?
— Marcus feat. Dusty (@marcusjdl) June 16, 2021
Say what you like about Cummings but who does not absolutely believe the Prime Minister conducts meetings like this pic.twitter.com/x5QzvBpxX3
— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) June 16, 2021
Dom, u up? pic.twitter.com/diVtg68y1a
— Ava-Santina (@AvaSantina) June 16, 2021
Boris texting like it’s the night before his GCSE chemistry exam and he hasn’t revised https://t.co/No2gZm8Tfb
— Jason Okundaye (@jasebyjason) June 16, 2021
Neil Maloney asked: Did he check his eyesight before reading these messages?
And Davies Tom said: “You had me at ‘hopeless’, you lost me at ‘Gove’.
Did he check his eyesight before reading these messages.? https://t.co/iwjglLaFwn
— Neil Maloney (@neilmaloney1) June 16, 2021
You had me at “hopeless”, you lost me at “Gove” https://t.co/SPcxvJtm2M
— Davies Tom (@SeriousShortbrd) June 16, 2021
Leaks
The reactions come after a Cummings released a series of Whatsapp conversations today – right before the Prime Minister’s Questions.
Upon Johnson’s suggestions last year to replace Hancock with Gove, Cummings said the move would do more harm than good as the Cabinet Office was a “shitshow”.
In the blog, Mr Cummings accused the PM of trying to “rewrite history” to defend Hancock and said Mr Johnson “cannot be trusted now either on Covid or any other crucial issue of war and peace”.
He also said a Covid-19 public inquiry will not fix Downing Street’s approach and it has been designed to “punt the tricky parts until after this PM has gone”, adding Johnson will leave two years after the next election.
“He wants to make money and have fun, not go on and on”.
Cummings also published one message exchange in which he pointed out that the US had significantly ramped up its level of testing.
He bemoaned Hancock (MH in the texts) for casting doubt about UK capacity.
“Totally f*cking hopeless,” the PM responded.
Related: Cummings publishes WhatsApps from Boris as PM heads to Commons for PMQs