Matt Hancock wanted to ‘get heavy with police’ to enforce lockdown, say leaked messages

‘Plod got their marching orders’, said then-health secretary after meeting with Boris Johnson and officers

Matt Hancock discussed how the government should “get heavy with the police” to enforce Covid lockdown rules, leaked WhatsApp messages have revealed.

The then-health secretary, Boris Johnson and other top officials gave senior police officers their “marching orders” at a meeting just after the third national lockdown began in January 2021.

The latest messages emerged as Mr Hancock lashed out at journalist Isabel Oakeshott – who leaked the MP’s communications to The Daily Telegraph after working with him on his book – accusing her of “massive betrayal”.