Inside Politics: Was Hancock ‘stitched up’ by camera tampering?

Security officials say CCTV could have been ‘deliberately turned from balcony to door’, writes Adam Forrest

(PA)

Well, that was easy. England stroll into the quarter-finals of the Euros after a weirdly straightforward win against Germany. It’s probably just as well two of the (potential) games England still have to play are at Wembley – European travel is looking anything but straightforward at the moment. Countries across the continent are tightening strict curbs on British tourists. Boris Johnson, meanwhile, is accused of being a bit lenient with VIPs from overseas. Labour say it’s “one rule for the rich” after the government told top business leaders they can stroll into the UK without quarantine.

Inside the bubble

Political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today:

Keir Starmer will surely want to go on the offensive at PMQs on the various fallouts from Matt Hancock’s resignation. An education minister will reply to an urgent question from Labour on schools, amid growing concern about the number of pupils who have to self-isolate. A debate on the Foreign Office budget will enable MPs to raise cuts in overseas aid spending.

Daily briefing

TAKING THE VIP: The government has been accused of creating “one rule for the rich and another for the rest” with its new travel rule exemptions for VIPs. Top business leaders will be able to escape quarantine on arrival – so long as their work is deemed economically important. Labour’s Angela Rayner said it was “offensive slap in the face” to the lowest paid workers. “This just takes the p***,” she added. Even Tories are critical. Nick Timothy, Theresa May’s former adviser, said: “It’s time to get back to normal for everyone – not just elites.” Ahead of Friday’s meeting between Boris Johnson and Angela Merkel (don’t mention the football!), Germany is still pushing for the EU to impose a bloc-wide quarantine on British travellers – even if they’re fully vaccinated. But the government is hoping to reopen travel to the EU with a new “Covid passport” NHS app, which will integrate into the EU’s green pass system, according to The Telegraph. An EU Commission spokesman said talks on integration were “progressing well”.

ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR JOHNSON: The hunt by Boris Johnson’s government to find the person who released Matt Hancock’s kiss-cam footage will be “the easiest leak inquiry in history”, according to security officials. A source at a firm in charge of security at government departments told The Times that anyone accessing the video would have left an easily-traced digital trail. It gets even more intriguing. David Videcette, a former Met detective, said the camera in Hancock’s office should have faced the opposite direction – claiming it would have been there to monitor a balcony. Which raises the possibility the camera was deliberately moved. A separate report by the Evening Standard quotes senior Whitehall sources who also think the camera may have been tampered with. “We all think Matt Hancock was really stitched up on this,” one source told the paper.

HOTLINE STING: Is it time for an overhaul in the way ministers’ communicate? The government is facing yet more questions about security after it emerged that Dominic Raab’s mobile number has been available online for more than a decade. Labour called for an official investigation after the foreign secretary’s digits were discovered by a Google search (it’s understood his number has now been removed). Former national security adviser Peter Ricketts told The Guardian – which first revealed the lapse – it had increased the risk of other states eavesdropping. It comes as Downing Street admitted that Matt Hancock and health minister Lord Bethell had indeed used private emails for official government work. Labour’s Angela Rayner said: “Lord Bethell used his private email account to sign off contracts … Sack him, publish the private emails and hand them over to the public inquiry.”

SUMMER TRUCE: Time for a celebratory BBQ? The EU will agree to delay the ban on sausages and other chilled meat products moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland later today. The UK’s request for a three-month extension on the grace period will be formally accepted – but the temporary truce solves nothing in the long-term. Today is also a big day for the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS): it’s the deadline for EU citizens living in the UK to apply to stay or lose their rights. Around 400,000 cases are yet to be processed, but the government says anyone who applies on time will have their case assessed. Ministers have been accused of “risking a terrible injustice” by refusing to extend the 30 June deadline, with experts warning large numbers would not apply in time due to difficulties accessing support. “There is a real risk of new Windrush-type tragedy,” said Labour MP Paul Blomfield.

HIGH AND DRY: Brexit minister David Frost has washed his hands of the red tape crisis forcing musicians to abandon tours of the EU, despite Boris Johnson promising he would “fix” it. In a stormy committee session with MPs, Frost insisted it was not his job to try to find a solution. It was the role of the culture and transport departments, he said. Frost dismissed the anger of top musicians such as Sir Elton John – who has accused ministers of lying – by saying the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road star “had his first hits before the UK even became a member the EU”. You have to admire his gumption. Frost actually suggested that stars like Sir Elton should pressure the EU to relax their visa rules. Responding to Frost’s appearance, a campaign group of artists – including Radiohead – said the UK’s “world-beating music industry is being hung out to dry”. C’mon everyone: “Don’t leave me high-eee…”

TOIL AND (BUBBLE) TROUBLE: Education secretary Gavin Williamson is preparing to scrap Covid “bubble” rules in schools, amid growing concern about the staggering number of pupils off because whole bubbles are told to self-isolate. The latest government figures showed more than 375,000 pupils (one in 20) were out of school for coronavirus-related reasons. But changes won’t be made until September, which means schools face “chaos” and disruption in the coming weeks. In other news, police are still investigating the incident which saw England’s chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty accosted by two men in a park. Boris Johnson said he was “shocked at seeing the despicable harassment”, while Keir Starmer condemned the “disgusting behaviour”. Will Whitty get greater security protection? No 10 wouldn’t comment, but The Times says the professor will get a car, putting him on par with mid-ranking cabinet ministers.

On the record

“I can’t help noticing that he had his first hits before the UK even became a member of the European Union.”

Brexit minister David Frost scoffs at Sir Elton John.

From the Twitterati

“Having a Foreign Secretary as stupid as Dominic Raab is a massive security risk – regardless of where his mobile number can be found.”

Jon Jones says Raab’s mobile no. isn’t the problem…

“The saddest thing is that clearly no-one has called it in 10 yrs.”

…and Kirstein Rummery wonders why it took so long to discover the problem.

Essential reading

Marie Le Conte, The Independent: Hancock’s epic career fail was so obvious, I almost felt sorry for him

Sean O’Grady, The Independent: Chris Whitty has saved lives – he should be revered, not molested

Simon Fletcher, New Statesman: Keir Starmer’s Labour desperately needs to stand for something

Colin Yeo, Prospect: EU citizens – welcome to the hostile environment

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