Matt Hancock

Also worth remembering those members of the House who were not prepared to swear blind loyalty to Brexit, preferring instead to be loyal to their constituents. People like Dominic Grieve, Greg Clarke, David Gauke, Kenneth Clarke and Nicholas Soames. At one time, I felt a little bit sorry for Hancock as he seemed to be the only one sent out to answer for his actions, but that feeling passed when he started promising the impossible, defending unacceptable action.

Precisely varian. Depressing isn't it.

The Peter Principle was first identified by Dr Laurence J. Peter, a sociologist, lecturer and business consultant, in his 1968 book of the same name. It states, "In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence."

Let's just remember that Johnson's cabinet ( or should I say Cumming's cabinet?) were not selected on the basis of competence but on the basis of blind loyalty to the brexit project. That is why so many of them are not up to the job.

Granarchist

I think he has also forgotten that it is an MP's duty to ask questions, whether male or female, and this tone is not helpful to his cause at all.

Exactly - the job of all MPs is to hold the Government to account - it’s called democracy. It’s not an MPs role to feel sorry for an inadequate Minister and give him a nice cup of tea to make him feel better.

GillT57

^He responded "but he's a good trade envoy". Or words with that meaning^. When referrring to Tony Abbott, some wag on FB said that Hancock's reply was the equivalent to saying that Fred West is good at laying patios.

It sounds as though he avoided the question by making something up. How does anybody know Tony Abbott will be a good trade envoy anyway?

growstuff - no apology needed, I probably could have expressed myself more clearly.

GillT57 - that made me lol

He responded "but he's a good trade envoy". Or words with that meaning. When referrring to Tony Abbott, some wag on FB said that Hancock's reply was the equivalent to saying that Fred West is good at laying patios.

Who do you think should be accountable for the Test and Trace disaster?

NfkDumpling

I agree with Ellan. His job morphed suddenly into something no one could have foreseen or prepared for. I think its time we accepted that our MPs are human beings doing their best. Not everyone can be immortal Donalds getting everything right.

He could try telling the truth for a start and not dismissing people with legitimate questions.

Ellianne

I agree MH sounds pretty exasperated a) with some people not doing as they're told and b) with the constant barrage of silly questions.
As for being a misogynist, I didn't see this trait in the daily briefings. He tried to answer male and female journalists in the same manner, in fact I remember him being more dismissive of Robert Peston who he accidentally/on purpose cut off for pushing silly questions. He was actually best at patiently answering members of the general public who had down to earth concerns.

Which silly questions? I was referring to legitimate, sensible questions.

He's Health Secretary during a pandemic. Of course, people will ask him questions and have every right to do so.

Iam64

growstuff, I was referring to Hancock's response to Kay Birley, the Sky News reporter who I thought was excellent in pushing him for a response to her summary of Abbot's many short comings.

Ah! Sorry!

I think he blusters because half the time, or more, he doesn’t understand what he is being asked.

growstuff, I was referring to Hancock's response to Kay Birley, the Sky News reporter who I thought was excellent in pushing him for a response to her summary of Abbot's many short comings.

I agree MH sounds pretty exasperated a) with some people not doing as they're told and b) with the constant barrage of silly questions.
As for being a misogynist, I didn't see this trait in the daily briefings. He tried to answer male and female journalists in the same manner, in fact I remember him being more dismissive of Robert Peston who he accidentally/on purpose cut off for pushing silly questions. He was actually best at patiently answering members of the general public who had down to earth concerns.

Where are all the scientists who should be answering questions ?

I agree with Ellan. His job morphed suddenly into something no one could have foreseen or prepared for. I think its time we accepted that our MPs are human beings doing their best. Not everyone can be immortal Donalds getting everything right.

Legal experts and campaigners have accused Matt Hancock of "fundamentally misunderstanding" his responsibilities to disabled people during the pandemic.

In a letter to the Health Secretary, Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey has shared legal advice arguing that the UK government is currently breaching international law in its treatment of some of the most vulnerable.

Sir Ed is demanding the Government reverse measures in the Coronavirus act which allow councils to downgrade the support they give to disabled people - including those in case homes.

Last week, Mr Hancock said that the change did not breach the European Convention on Human Rights.

But Sir Ed, who is a carer for his disabled son, has shared legal advice which argues that changes to the Care Act breach the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Charities have reported on disabled people experiencing immense hardship since downgrade was enacted.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/matt-hancock-told-covid-19-22802694?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

EllanVannin

We mustn't forget that this man seems to have born/e the brunt of this whole Covid nonsense. He seems to have carried the can for everyone.
I think I'd feel a tad tetchy if asked a stupid question too.

He wasn't asked stupid questions. He was asked sensible, legitimate questions.

NotTooOld

I have not seen MH in the H of C but I have seen him many times on the weekly briefings and also listened to him on the radio. I can't really see why he deserves this criticism. He comes across as someone who knows his brief and is doing his level best in extremely difficult circumstances. He seems quite tough to me, not someone 'out of his depth'.

Well, I'm afraid that I have a totally different impression. He lies his way out of difficulties and has made ridiculous promises about the number of new nurses who will be recruited and the number of new hospitals which will be built. He must know that both are fantasies. He's also quoted inaccurate statistics and has made a number of unachievable promises, particularly about Test and Trace. I've actually seen him in the flesh at an election hustings, where he couldn't answer straightforward questions honestly. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. His replies to the questions asked in Parliament should, in my opinion, have been reprimanded.

I wonder if he is heartily sick of being left with so much of this to deal with. Even if he is, it doesn't excuse rudeness, but we all have a breaking point. Where is Boris? He has a talent for disappearing. He is PM. He should be doing his fair share. The EU are not impressed that he is missing from important talks.

We mustn't forget that this man seems to have born/e the brunt of this whole Covid nonsense. He seems to have carried the can for everyone.
I think I'd feel a tad tetchy if asked a stupid question too.

I have not seen MH in the H of C but I have seen him many times on the weekly briefings and also listened to him on the radio. I can't really see why he deserves this criticism. He comes across as someone who knows his brief and is doing his level best in extremely difficult circumstances. He seems quite tough to me, not someone 'out of his depth'.

suziewoozie

The MP for Slough a few days ago asked in the House why some constituents were being asked to travel to I of W for a test. Hancock retorted ‘I will not have this divisive language’. The MP is male and a Sikh. The Speaker clearly finds this type of behaviour absolutely fine ( but then that’s why he got the job).

I saw that one too.

Iam64

growstuff, I may be wrong but my memory isn't that he denied Tony Abbot is a homophobic, misogynist. He responded "but he's a good trade envoy". Or words with that meaning.

Hancock is a man out of his depth. Even his pink tie looks exhausted. He looks highly anxious, exhausted but non of that excuses his rudeness towards female journalists. I agree, he has problems with women just like he has problems with his job.

They weren't journalists. They were MPs in the House of Commons, asking perfectly legitimate questions, which he just didn't want to answer.

We had a good speaker MayBee and he was roundly hated on GN. Just wait for the flood of decision.