Hancock's indiscretion could cost him millions

I don’t think so. Tice is now divorced but I’m not sure that Oakeshott is even though she is in a relationship with Tice. They both have three children.

Here she is talking about it to Piers Morgan. Might as well get the words straight from the horse's mouth.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmJsg798YiE

I’m not sure ‘the national interest’ argument stacks up as I understand the messages had already been handed over to the Independent Inquiry. Oakeshott was a fierce anti lockdown proponent and has also been paid by the Telegraph for her ‘scoop’ - methinks self-interest perhaps had a higher priority than her care for the general public.

She was ever so slightly back tracking on her own terminology this morning.
Not say “ menacing “ messages from Hancock in the early hours. Not writing alone but a team of journalists all being paid. A rushed job.

I'm shocked to the core at what IO has done and don't think it shows that she's a fine journalist at all. Quite the opposite unless we think that blatant untrustworthiness in the pursuit of sensation is fine. We all let our hair down / let off steam in WhatsApp messages tho not all of us have as much hair or steam as govt ministers.
'In the public interest' is a meaningless term when public interest in anything that puts unpopular politicians in a bad light is known to be insatiable. Can be used to justify anything.

Government business should not be transacted via WhatsApp messages. If it is, they should be kept as part of the record.

Whether this would subject them to the 30 year rule is another matter, but it would make them subject to Freedom of Information requests...

P.S. I'm sure that in the past much has been done by word of mouth/private discussions. Maybe they should have kept it that way..

Government ministers - and everyone else - should realise that every single word they tap out on their phone or e-mail is there in cyberspace for ever and can be dragged up at any time. Remember the days when we had bits of paper? If you shredded them (uncopied) that was the end of it. Not any more. Once we entered the 21st century everything became digital and words can live forever. I'm just astonished that MPs don't seem to realise that.

Exactly, Chestnut - a friend who worked in the NHS all her life said she was shocked that any government employee, never mind a minister, would think that this was in any way a secure way of messaging.
And winterwhite, I'm shocked that you're shocked by IO's actions. As I said earlier in the thread, I knew her when she was just beginning her career as a journalist and she was ruthlessly ambitious even then.I got the impression she'd have sold her granny if it had meant advancing up the career ladder.

Blondiescot I knew nothing of IO until this blew up. I meant that I find it a shocking thing to have done and dislike the praise she seems to be getting and the whole notion that ‘fine journalism’ can justify behaving in such a third rate way.

It's not 'fine journalism' though, is it winterwhite?
She was handed that data on a plate because she was ghostwriting Hancock's biography. Then she sat on it until biography was published. I expect she's been paid for that. Then paid again by the DT I bet. That's just greed. All of it came very easily.

He saw it as his big chance for fame and fortune. Instead he had to resort to going to the jungle.

There was a discussion about this with a couple of journalists commenting. They were concerned because if their 'sources get spooked that they may be outed by the likes of Isabel they won't be forthcoming.

I'm not defending Hancock but I find this woman's behaviour to be extremely low.

She was being interviewed on TV today and wasn't being given an easy ride either.

I find it odd that some claim it was excellent journalism. It wasn't. But if it suits political views of some she's commended.

I'm sure that had this been a Labour government and a journalist had done the same , there would be condemnation

Fleurpepper

maddyone

I thought Isabel Oakeshott leaked the messages.
But why trust her? She’s a journalist!

She is a lot more than a journalist!!! How anyone could trust her- is truly beyond me. She is a really nasty piece of work.

Well, Fleurpepper, I was bewildered because I thought the general consensus was that most people loathed her but now she has leaked these messages she seems to have gone up in some people's estimation.

Why would anyone trust Oakeshott with anything?
Yes, I agree.

It all shows that Hancock is more of a fool than we thought possible.

Neither Oakeshott nor Hancock come out of this well.

The messages show an astounding degree of unprofessionalism at the top levels of that government.

Zoejory

There was a discussion about this with a couple of journalists commenting. They were concerned because if their 'sources get spooked that they may be outed by the likes of Isabel they won't be forthcoming.

I'm not defending Hancock but I find this woman's behaviour to be extremely low.

She was being interviewed on TV today and wasn't being given an easy ride either.

I find it odd that some claim it was excellent journalism. It wasn't. But if it suits political views of some she's commended.

I'm sure that had this been a Labour government and a journalist had done the same , there would be condemnation

The public have a right to know when there are scandals at the heart of government regardless of the party, and personal political leaning is completely irrelevant. If Labour politicians behaved in a similar way (or Lib Dems, SNP, Plaid, or whoever) there would be no condemnation of the expose from right minded people.

Whatever we think of Oakeshott what she is revealing is in the public interest, you can’t dress up the facts of what people said.

I am so utterly disgusted with this lot, all of them, that I think a general election is essential. I am exhausted with it all and we need a chance to set a new agenda and a plan if and when they have to sort out another pandemic. Please, just start again.

Just listened to Oakeshott’s explanation of the whole sorry saga on The Newsagents.

What she maintains is that none of what she disclosed was personal, but what she is keen to show is the debacle over lockdown and the over mighty powers the government gave to itself were wrong and unnecessary.

I know that Oakeshott has always been vehemently against lockdown and I suppose this is one way she is using to prove her case.

She also said that there is a lot more to come out including information about Sunak.

Can’t say that she is a likeable person, in fact I would say she is as hard as nails, and certainly not someone you could remotely trust. Ethically I think she is on very dodgy ground although she pushed back hard against that accusation. However I am biased as I disagree with her both politically and ethically.

There is no question, however, that she has played a blinder here.

I can remember at the time that people were alarmed at the eat out scheme.

It was obvious that it would spread the virus.

But then to suppress the information - …….

TopsyIrene06

I am so utterly disgusted with this lot, all of them, that I think a general election is essential. I am exhausted with it all and we need a chance to set a new agenda and a plan if and when they have to sort out another pandemic. Please, just start again.

Well, many of that lot have gone since Boris reluctantly resigned as party leader.

Nobody bothered about the PPE money he gave to his sisters company? The company he owns 20% of.
I suppose given the corruption in Westminster /Tory benches thats small feed and willbe swept under the carpet like so much else is.
Seems the tories really dont live in the real world and sadly their electorate are happy to let them behave this way !