Families share tragic WhatsApp messages amid Matt Hancock leaks

Heartbroken Britons have shared their own ‘leaked’ WhatsApp messages with loved ones who have died during the coronavirus pandemic, after thousands of Matt Hancock’s 2020 texts were revealed.

The former Health Secretary leaked about 100,000 of his private texts by his Pandemic Diaries ghostwriter Isabel Oakeshott last week.

Now devastated families have taken to social media to speak out about the “trauma” they suffered over the same period – much of it is now going viral.

Among them was a student nurse who had to comfort dying strangers in hospital – but was unable to hold her father’s hand as he died of Covid.

While a man shared the tragic last conversation he had with his mother before she was put on a ventilator and died.

Families have shared their grief online by “leaking” their own recent text messages to their loved ones who have died during the Covid pandemic

Paul Quinn shared a screenshot of his tragic final text with his dying mother on Twitter, writing: “My “leaked” messages from 2020. My mother worked in a nursing home throughout the pandemic, the same day I sent her the last message she was put on a ventilator and died on December 18th �� #whatsapp #matthanock #leaked’. ‘

In an exchange seen almost 150,000 times, Mr Quinn’s mother described the horrific conditions her care home was going through on May 27, saying: “Damn it, three more residents died xxx’

In a later message, she reveals how she contracted Covid and asks to find out if her son’s father is okay or not.

She said: ‘is dad ok I have Covid pneumonia. Bleach everywhere.’

Helene Bacca described her experiences as a nursing student during the pandemic – and how she could not comfort her father, who died on November 18, 2020.

She tweeted: “My father passed away from Covid. I served as an intern in the community as a nursing student. I could hold other patients’ hands, but not his. He died alone in a hospital bed.’

Another user shared a similar story, revealing how his parent died just two hours after his uncle – and that only 15 people were able to come to their funerals due to the lockdown restrictions in place.

“My father was in the hospital for 3 months, 2 of them in a coma,” they wrote on Twitter. “He was so bad. I was then allowed to see him. Not his partner, not his grandchildren. He came by and we hoped. He did not make it. He died 48 hours after my uncle.’

Mourning Brits took to social media to share their messages after former Health Secretary Matt Hancock last week leaked about 100,000 private texts he sent in 2020

The comments come as Mr Hancock was accused of “despicable” behavior after leaked news suggested he was discussing withholding funding for a center for learning disabilities to pressure an MP not to rebel against coronavirus restrictions.

The former Health Secretary and a staffer spoke about warning Bury North MP James Daly that a new center for disabled children and adults would be “off the table” if he voted against the government, according to leaked WhatsApp messages.

Senior Conservative Jake Berry described the disclosure as an “absolute disgrace” and called for Mr Hancock to be taken before the House of Commons for questioning.

Sir Jake, whose son is disabled, said: “Once you’ve gotten to the point of weaponizing the care of disabled children, I think you’ve crossed the line.”

Mr Hancock’s team said “what is being accused here never happened” as they denied the “completely incomplete account” based on a plethora of his WhatsApp messages handed to the Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper said the discussion between Mr Hancock and political adviser Allan Nixon took place ahead of a vote on December 1, 2020 on introducing new Covid-19 restrictions in England.

It came at a time when Whitehall was scrambling to take action because tens of thousands of lives were at stake over the winter and all options were being considered to ensure the vote was won.

Matt Hancock has come under fire for some of his leaked texts, including messages that discussed withholding funding for a center for learning disabilities to pressure an MP not to rebel against coronavirus restrictions

Mr Nixon said they needed to “dangle our most important issues” with some of the newest MPs brought into Parliament by Boris Johnson’s 2019 election victory.

For example, Mr Nixon suggested: “James wants his Learning Disability Hub in Bury – Whips call him and say the health team wants to work with him to deliver this but that’s off the table if he rebels.”

The re-election of “these guys” is in many cases up to us, and we know what they want. We should seriously consider it, I think,” he wrote.

Mr. Hancock’s response was “Yes, 100%”.

Mr Daly, a Conservative MP, told the newspaper he was “appalled” and “disgusted” that the Disability Hub was being discussed to force it to vote with ministers.

But he said the threat was never made to him.

Mr Hancock’s spokesman said: “As we have seen this repeatedly over the past week, it is utterly wrong to take this utterly incomplete account and write it down as fact.

“What is accused here never happened to demonstrate that the story is wrong and to show why such a biased, partial approach to the evidence is a grave error driven by those with a vested interest and have an ax to sharpen.

“The place to look objectively at anything about the pandemic is in the public inquiry.”

Rossendale and Darwen MP Sir Jake, a former Tory Party leader, said: “This is an absolute disgrace.

“Hancock should be dragged into the House of Commons bar first thing in the morning for questioning.”