Does Frontier Airlines Require A Covid Vaccine To Fly, Isaac Mentouri Massage, Land For Sale Tabor Rd, Bryan, Tx, Hartland School Board Meeting, Articles G

In response to the statement, a spokesman for Corbyn stated: "Gavin Williamson should focus on his job and not give credence to entirely false and ridiculous smears". Sir Gavin Alexander Williamson CBE (born 25 June 1976) is a British politician who most recently served as Minister of State without Portfolio from 25 October to 8 November 2022. What are the Gavin Williamson allegations? It's emerged Matt Hancock was involved in a bitter clash with the then-education secretary over the closure of schools during the #pandemic.Leaked WhatsApp messages show Sir Gavin Williamson wanted classrooms to stay open, but the former health secretary shut them. "Your commitment to successive Conservative governments and the party over the years has been unwavering.". Matt Hancock made the comments in May 2020 at the height of the . Gavin has also been a member of parliament from South Staffordshire since 2010. Gavin Williamson said teaching unions just hate work during Covid pandemic. At the height of his powers as the . Posted on March 3, 2023. The Conservative Party lawmaker was previously fired from his post as defense minister in 2019 by then-Prime Minister Theresa May over the leaking of a key decision related to the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. I have the utmost respect for teachers who work tirelessly to support students. In a statement on Wednesday, Williamson said: Further to reports in the Telegraph and other outlets, I wish to clarify that these messages were about some unions and not teachers. Williamson served as Secretary of State for Defence from November 2017 to 2019. VideoRussian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Sir Gavin had come under increasing pressure since a series of expletive-laden text messages sent by him to Tory colleague and then-Chief Whip Wendy Morton were published in the Sunday Times. The former education secretary accused teachers of looking for an "excuse" not to work during the pandemic, according to leaked WhatsApp messages. Gavis twitter account has 80.9k followers. The journalist has said she broke a non-disclosure agreement to release the messages because they are "in the public interest". Looking back now, I wonder whether I should have resigned at that point. After 2005, Williamson then moved to Derbyshire. Williamson responded: I know they really really do just hate work.. And for that we must now fight a rearguard action.. He carries a slim body structure which is the result of his regular fitness activities. "And the government was starting to look to the teaching profession to welcome those young people back into school. However, he added that the claims were becoming a "distraction" from the government's "good work". Gavin was born in Scarborough on 25th June 1976. It included many parts of the north-west, Yorkshire and Leicester. 03/03/2022 06:34pm GMT. We hadnt got vaccines. Writing on Twitter following the publication of the texts, Sir Gavin said he wanted to "clarify that these messages were about some unions and not teachers". (PA Images) Conservative MP and former cabinet minister Gavin Williamson has been handed a knighthood. And essentially, the very people who then brought those young people back into school are being described in those snide terms by the former education secretary, in the very terms which, as somebody whos worked in education for all these years, who wants the brightest and the best young people to want to become politicians, that is less likely this morning because of that sneering denigration of the teaching profession. Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street/Crown Copyright via PA Media. ", Gavin Williamson texts unacceptable, PM says, Williamson has not apologised to Morton, friends say, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. Gavin Williamson's claims teachers were looking for an "excuse" not to work during the pandemic are a "kick in the teeth" for the profession, says Labour. Williamson's remark was quoted by the president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, who posted a comment on his official Twitter account: "The Kremlin's 'chemical attack' in the UK is nothing but an encroachment on British sovereignty. No 10 has said the prime minister "knew there was a disagreement" but he didn't know "the substance" of messages until they were published in the Sunday Times. The Telegraph previously revealed conversations with Matt Hancock about care home testing, the use of face masks and efficacy of shielding. In his resignation letter, he said he was leaving government with "real sadness" but offered Prime Minister Rishi Sunak his "full and total support from the backbenches". As we have seen, releasing them in this way gives a partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda. He is widely known mishandling the GCSE and A-Level exams fiasco in 2020 as Education Secretary. 'I received a somewhat menacing message from him at 1.20 in the morning,' she told TalkTV's Piers Morgan Uncensored. And for that we must now fight a rear-guard action.. Mr Barton told the BBC: "We have to remind ourselves that this was an age of extraordinary anxiety. Williamson said it was basically as a last resort so they cant use it as a reason not to open. The Sunday Telegraph reported that a senior co-worker stated that the woman involved was in tears when reporting the incident at work and that Williamson was subsequently the subject of a meeting with managers. I spent an awful lot of time putting forward the kind of policies that needed to be thought about if children were going to get the support they needed during this very, very uncertain time for them, she told Sky News. Wiktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via Getty Images. It came to light as members of the National Education Union (NEU) in London and the south of England prepared to strike in the latest day of industrial action in teachers long-running dispute with the government. Commons watchdog hints at potential Gavin Williamson investigation, Tens of thousands of teachers to strike in England, Scotland and Wales, Sunak faces scrutiny over whether he knew of Gavin Williamson bully claims, Labour says government has created perfect storm in Englands teaching workforce, Sheffield school criticised for saying job applicants must be wedded to role, Rishi Sunak too weak to stand up to cartoon bully Williamson, says Starmer, Sunak was unaware of any specific allegations about Williamson, says ally, Teachers strike: majority of schools in England and Wales will be open, says Keegan, Its about the future: parents on the school strikes in England and Wales, Williamsons exit gets Sunaks premiership off to an awkward start. After closing schools in England as a countermeasure to tackle the COVID-19 crisis from 20 March 2020, Gavin recently announced There is little evidence COVID spreads in school. The former education secretary also told then health. Following Mr Sunak's second, and this time successful, bid to become PM, Sir Gavin was given a job as a Cabinet Office minister. He had studied Government and Politics and Economics at A Level. Here are our stories on the leaks: That October, Sir Gavin announced that A-level exams would be delayed by several weeks, a shorter period than some teaching unions had called for. The messages, given to the Daily Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, have revealed how the government operated behind closed doors at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Gavin Williamson said teaching unions 'just hate work' during Covid pandemic News and Gossip - March 1, 2023 0 Teachers complained about a lack of PPE in order "to have an excuse not to teach", Gavin Williamson said in a leaked WhatsApp chat, commenting later that some teaching unions "really do just hate work". People say things in the heat of the moment on WhatsApp that they dont really believe., On unions, he said: I think they work hard for their members. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? I have the utmost respect for teachers who work tirelessly to support students. A quick guide to Gavin Williamson More than 100,000 messages sent between ministers and officials during the pandemic, have been passed to the Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott. Mr Barton told the BBC: Its contemptible because we have to remind ourselves that this was an age of extraordinary anxiety. Currently, Gavin is married to Jianna Eland the couple has two beautiful daughters.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'millionsofcelebs_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-millionsofcelebs_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'millionsofcelebs_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',124,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-millionsofcelebs_com-medrectangle-3-0_1'); .medrectangle-3-multi-124{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. "His promise to lead a government of integrity has now been left in tatters. To save his marriage, he has said he left the firm. Education secretary Gavin Williamson said teachers 'hate work' and were looking for 'an excuse' for time off during the pandemic . Teaching unions react with fury to leaked Matt Hancock messages they say show 'appalling lack of respect'UK politics live - latest news updatesTeaching unions have reacted with fury to leaked texts sent by the former education secretary Gavin Williamson at the height of the Covid pandemic, saying they reveal the UK government's "secret contempt for teachers".Paul Whiteman, the . Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers . On moral issues, do we really want to take the American way? In new leaked WhatsApp messages from the Telegraphs investigation, Matt Hancock, the then health secretary, was asked by Williamson, who was the education secretary, to help unblock school requests for protective equipment if a child became ill at school as classrooms prepared to reopen after the first lockdown. Elsewhere, Sir Gavin has been urged to apologise over teacher remarks by the Liberal Democrats. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Mays decision followed an inquiry into how the Daily Telegraph newspaper discovered that the UK government was preparing to give Huawei access to parts of the countrys 5G mobile network. Stefan Rousseau via PA Wire/PA Images. At the age of years, Gavin Williamson (harpsichordist) weight not available right now. He is know to have played a key part in the PM's . Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW. Sir Gavin Williamson told the former chief whip "you f*** us all over" in angry texts after being excluded from the Queen's funeral The cabinet minister is facing an investigation over a series. The newspaper received more than 100,000 WhatsApp messages from the former Health Secretary's communications, which were shared by Isabel Oakeshott, the ghostwriter of his Pandemic Diaries. Williamson made his maiden speech on 8 June 2010, on the same day as Nicky Morgan and Kwasi Kwarteng. In a group chat, Johnson said: Folks I am about to [be] asked about masks in schools. Thu 2 Mar 2023 09.35 EST First published on Thu 2 Mar 2023 05.16 EST Teaching unions have reacted with fury to leaked texts sent by the former education secretary Gavin Williamson at the. I just felt so personally upset about it. They did not reopen until March 8, 2021. In this handout photo provided by UK Parliament, Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in London, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. 9 November 2022. SHAMED Sir Gavin Williamson is out of the Cabinet for the THIRD time in his toxic political career. ","styles":".email-signup-iframe-njjzu0 div{font-family:GuardianTextSans,Guardian Text Sans Web,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:0.875rem;line-height:1.35;font-weight:700;source-text-decoration-thickness:2px;}.email-signup-iframe-de6my7{font-family:GuardianTextSans,Guardian Text Sans Web,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.35;font-weight:700;source-text-decoration-thickness:2px;color:#121212;}.email-signup-iframe-17gkgdc{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:wrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;}.email-signup-iframe-lxzyg5{margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:8px;-webkit-flex-basis:335px;-ms-flex-preferred-size:335px;flex-basis:335px;-webkit-flex-shrink:1;-ms-flex-negative:1;flex-shrink:1;}.email-signup-iframe-19ilr9m{font-family:GuardianTextSans,Guardian Text Sans Web,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.35;font-weight:700;source-text-decoration-thickness:2px;color:#121212;position:absolute;overflow:hidden;white-space:nowrap;width:1px;height:1px;margin:-1px;padding:0;border:0;clip:rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);-webkit-clip-path:inset(50%);-webkit-clip-path:inset(50%);clip-path:inset(50%);}.email-signup-iframe-11bty1f{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;height:44px;font-family:GuardianTextSans,Guardian Text Sans Web,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.35;font-weight:400;source-text-decoration-thickness:2px;color:#121212;background-color:#FFFFFF;border:2px solid #707070;padding:0 8px;margin-top:4px;height:36px;margin-top:0;}.email-signup-iframe-11bty1f:focus{border:2px solid #0077B6;outline:0;}html:not(.src-focus-disabled) .email-signup-iframe-11bty1f:focus{box-shadow:0 0 0 5px #0077B6;}.email-signup-iframe-11bty1f:invalid{box-shadow:none;}.email-signup-iframe-11bty1f:invalid[value]:not([value=]){border:4px solid #C70000;color:#121212;margin-top:0;}.email-signup-iframe-1wosa0f{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;box-sizing:border-box;border:none;background:transparent;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:.3s ease-in-out;transition:.3s ease-in-out;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap;font-family:GuardianTextSans,Guardian Text Sans Web,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.35;font-weight:700;source-text-decoration-thickness:2px;height:36px;min-height:36px;padding:0 16px;border-radius:36px;padding-bottom:2px;background-color:#052962;color:#FFFFFF;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;background-color:#000000;-webkit-flex-basis:118px;-ms-flex-preferred-size:118px;flex-basis:118px;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;margin-bottom:8px;}.email-signup-iframe-1wosa0f:disabled{cursor:not-allowed;}.email-signup-iframe-1wosa0f:focus{outline:0;}html:not(.src-focus-disabled) .email-signup-iframe-1wosa0f:focus{outline:5px solid #0077B6;outline-offset:3px;}.email-signup-iframe-1wosa0f:hover{background-color:#234B8A;}.email-signup-iframe-1wosa0f:hover{background-color:#333333;}","newsletterId":"morning-briefing","successDescription":"Well send you First Edition every weekday"} clientonly=true>Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Discover Gavin Williamson's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. ', Mr Hancock replied: 'I'm having to turn the volume down.'. The former education secretary faced heavy criticism for his handling of the Covid crisis in schools, in particular the 2020 exams fiasco and a number of embarrassing U-turns. Most children were out of school for six months, and since then anxiety has increased and mental health has plummeted, she said. The selection went to five ballots, but in the end Williamson won out over local councillor Robert Light in the final ballot. Williamson has not apologised to Morton, friends say. Sir Gavin was defence secretary in Theresa May's government but was sacked in 2019 over claims - denied by him - that he had leaked details of a national security council meeting. We have estimated Later that month, Williamson alleged that the leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, in meeting a Czech diplomat (later revealed to be a spy) during the 1980s, had "betray[ed]" his country. And he knows that very well.. Mr Hancock said it would be "no problem" to provide the PPE "on that basis". Watch: Sunak on Williamson texts - Not right, not acceptable. A collection of more than 100,000 messages sent between former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and other ministers and officials at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic have been obtained by the . Similarly, their core compensation is around 81,932, for example US$108,307.14, as the core annual compensation of an MP (member of parliament . Read more It appeared to show Sir Gavin . Williamson worked as managing director of fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall, a subsidiary of AGA, until 2004. The former education secretary, Sir Gavin Williamson, sacked for incompetence, is being hailed in Somaliland as a pro-independence hero By Harry Yorke. Former health secretary Matt Hancock was involved in a behind-the-scenes clash with then-education secretary Gavin Williamson over moves to keep classrooms open during the Covid pandemic. On 15 March 2018, in the wake of the Salisbury poisoning, Williamson answered a question about Russia's potential response to the UK's punitive measures against Russia by saying that "frankly, Russia should go away, and it should shut up". Net Worth: $5 Million: Name: Gavin Williamson: Date of Birth: 25 June 1976: Age: 46 Years Old: Gender: Male: British politician Gavin Williamson is also known as Gavin Alexander Williamson. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'millionsofcelebs_com-box-4','ezslot_4',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-millionsofcelebs_com-box-4-0');Gavins Nationality is British and he is of white ethnicity. Speaking on Monday, Mr Sunak said the language was "not acceptable" but asked if it amounted to bullying, he said it was "right" to let an independent complaints process conclude. In an article for The Telegraph the former education secretary said he considered resigning during the pandemic over the Governments decision to shut schools at the start of 2021. At the height of his powers as the government chief whip, Gavin Williamson would often be compared to Francis Urquhart, the ruthless parliamentary enforcer in the novel and TV drama House of Cards. Since then, there have been other allegations made about my past conduct. Williamson campaigned on a number of issues in his first year in Parliament. Alex Murdaugh jailed for life for double murder. The former health secretary shared a lengthy statement this morning, saying he was hugely disappointed and sad at the massive betrayal and breach of trust by Isabel Oakshott. Sir Gavin said he wanted to make sure the PPE was provided so that schools "can't use [the shortfall] as a reason not to open" and that some would want to use it as "an excuse to avoid having to teach". Gavin Williamson has come under fire for a series of leaked messages which revealed he said teachers were looking for an excuse not to work during the pandemic. Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said: "This is yet another example of Rishi Sunak's poor judgement and weak leadership. Cabinet Office minister and South Staffordshire MP Sir Gavin Williamson is facing an investigation over a series of abusive and threatening messages reportedly sent to the then Tory chief whip. At 46 years old, Gavin Williamson height not available right now. Government dragged their feet over providing laptops for children most in need, while it took the footballer Marcus Rashford to shame them into free school meals provision during the school holidays. Sir Gavin responded: 'I know they really really do just hate work.'. 'During the pandemic, teachers went above and beyond during very challenging times and very much continue to do so.'. Gavins has 13.9k followers in hisInstagram account. Just by his body language. He added: There is absolutely no public interest case for this huge breach. Considered a close Sunak ally, Williamson had faced growing calls to quit following bullying allegations. 2. And on Tuesday, Anne Milton, who worked as deputy chief whip between 2015 and 2017, told Channel 4 News that Sir Gavin's behaviour had been "threatening" and "intimidating". Gavin Williamson (Gavin Alexander Williamson) was born on 25 June, 1976 in Scarborough, United Kingdom, is a British Conservative politician. Before Gavin became Secretary of State for Education he served as Secretary of State for Defence for 2 years. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 25 June. Discussing the issue of face masks in schools in a WhatsApp group with the prime minister, Englands chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, appeared to say there were no very strong reasons either way, but Johnson received advice from senior aides that he would have difficulty communicating the difference. Gavin Williamson is 44 years old British Conservative politician serving as secretary of state for education since 2019. However he is far from being the youngest to ever take the role. Johnson removed him from the role in 2021 during a cabinet reshuffle. Mr Hancock messaged Sir Gavin on October 1 2020 to congratulate him on his decision to delay A-level exams for a few weeks. We need to change that ethos and have a similar one to that of Germany or Japan. Gavin has also been a member of parliament from South Staffordshire since 2010. It came as Sir Gavin this morning faced new claims that he had made a tacit threat to a Tory MP over her personal life in 2016. So children are living with the impact of what happened during that time right now, today. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. "During the pandemic, teachers went above and beyond during very challenging times.". Sir Gavin said that he thought long and deeply about quitting. Sunday May 22 2022, 12.01am BST, The Sunday Times. He then became. According to Williamson, it became "flirtatious and a couple of times we shared a kiss", but it "never went further", Williamson told the Daily Mail. He gained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Bradford. - Mr Hancock was involved in a bitter behind-the-scenes clash with then-education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson over whether to close schools in January 2021. Saara Chaudry Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Early Life, Career, Bio, Dating, Facts, Brooke Monk Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Early Life, Career, Bio, TikTok Star, Facts, Sergeant Ker Yang Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Early Life, Career, Dating, Bio, Facts, Lizz Adams Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Early Life, Career, Dating, Bio, Facts, Kaique Pacheco Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Early Life, Career, Dating, Bio, Facts, Aroha Hafez Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Early Life, Career, Dating, Bio, Facts, Mark Tallman Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Early Life, Career, Dating, Bio, Facts, Alexandra Whittingham Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Early Life, Career, Dating, Bio, Facts. Sir Gavin later added: 'Some [schools] will just want to say they can't [open] so they have an excuse to avoid having to teach, what joys!!!'. Gavin Williamson accused teachers of looking for an "excuse" not to work during the pandemic, according to leaked WhatsApp messages. Coronavirus Gavin Williamson said teaching unions 'just hate work' during Covid pandemic Former education secretary said to have made comments in leaked WhatsApp exchanges to Matt Hancock, then. Teaching unions, including the National Education Union, were deeply critical of the governments approach to schools reopening and exams, including a fiasco over A-level results predicted by an algorithm. In his resignation letter, Sir Gavin said he would comply with "an ongoing complaints process concerning texts he sent to a colleague" and added that he had "apologised to the recipient for those messages". A spokesman for Mr Hancock said: 'Tonight's [Wednesday's] revelations are exactly like last night's. He later tweeted he would not be taking any severance pay, adding that the money should go towards the government's priorities such as "reducing the NHS's waiting lists". Downing Street revealed that the former education secretary was made a 'Sir' just months after being sacked in the wake of the exams fiasco. Williamson was appointed Secretary of State for Defence on 2 November 2017 after the resignation of Sir Michael Fallon the preceding evening. Read about our approach to external linking. I just felt so personally upset about it.'. During the pandemic, teachers went above and beyond during very challenging times and very much continue to do so.. Sir Gavin Williamson meeting an admirer, brandishing a misspelt placard with his name, in Somaliland. Mr Hancock responded with two laughing emojis, and a third which showed a dart on the centre of a target. British cabinet office minister Gavin Williamson resigned from his role on Tuesday following recent allegations of bullying, saying the accusations against him were becoming a distraction for the good work this government is doing.. The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, had already announced children would need to wear face coverings in corridors. Teachers' unions had claimed the 1 June target for reopening schools in England was too soon to be safe. Part of HuffPost Politics. Sir Gavin had also been reported to the MPs' bullying watchdog - the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) - over his WhatsApps to Ms Morton. It comes amid a broader war of words between Ms Oakeshott and Mr Hancock. Photograph: ZUMA Press, Inc./Alamy. Teachers complained about a lack of PPE in order to have an excuse not to teach, Gavin Williamson said in a leaked WhatsApp chat, commenting later that some teaching unions really do just hate work. A government was left squirming as he was grilled by Nick Ferrari over leaked WhatsApp messages revealing Gavin Williamson's thoughts about teachers. 7 November 2022. Williamson was one of several MPs who was absent or abstained on the 21 March 2011 vote on supporting UN-backed action in Libya. In 2015 he received the Honorific Title The Right Honourable for life after being sworn in as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The messages between Mr Hancock and Emma Dean, a special adviser, were exchanged during a Zoom meeting in which Sir Gavin convinced the prime minister at the time, Boris Johnson, that the January reopening should go ahead, despite concerns about a second Covid wave gripping the country.