Lord Bethell's WhatsApp's with Matt Hancock and Dido Harding released
Lord Bethell's WhatsApp's with Matt Hancock and Dido Harding released
Tory Peer Lord Bethell claimed WhatsApp messages were used for "Coffee orders" and not decision-making - Released messages suggest otherwise.
Back in June 2023, former Health Minister Lord Bethell told the BBC:
“Most of the WhatsApp messages are about coffee and who needs to have what kind of coffee for what kind of meeting. You see, most of this is about frothy material, not about meaningful decision-making,”
However, WhatsApp messages disclosed to this newsletter via a freedom of information request reveal Lord Bethell did discuss important government business with former Secretary of State Matt Hancock and former head of “Test and Trace” Dido Harding via the messaging service.
Back in May 2020 Matt Hancock set up a WhatsApp group with Lord (James) Bethell and Dido Harding. The group was called “TnT Matt Dido Jim”. We can reveal that in the first month of the WhatsApp channel being established the trio discussed:
“Issues” associated with testing in Social Care setting’s and Care Homes.
Problems with the NHS - who challenged the use of “the NHS brand for Test and Trace”.
Conversations regarding the Covid testing supply chain.
….And more.
Lord Bethell’s WhatsApp’s regarding testing in social care setting
On the 26 May 2020, Bethell posted messages in the WhatsApp group discussing the current situation with regards to testing in Social Care settings. The Peer noted “My overall impression is that there is huge progress, but also much much more to do”
Lord Bethell provided Hancock and Harding with a “heads-up” on a number of issues relating to testing in care homes stating:
“It emerged there are quite s few outstanding practical challenges (like getting older people to get tests), demand issues (some hard-to-reach homes that have not responded to requests for testing)..”
In the previous week, Matt Hancock claimed in the House of Commons that his department had thrown a “protective ring” around care homes. These messages appear to contradict this statement.
A copy of the exchange can be viewed here:
“I own the brand”
In Mid-May 2020, Dido Harding used WhatsApp to inform Lord Bethell and Matt Hancock that the NHS England comma team were unhappy about the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) using the “NHS Brand for Test and Trace”.
Hancock, smugly replied “No problem. I own the brand so it’s not an issue”
The vast majority of services carried out on behalf of the Test and Trace programme were contracted out to the private sector - Many of the firms landed contract via a second “VIP” lane.
An investigation by Good Law Project found that introductions from just six Conservative Party politicians led to ‘VIPs’ being awarded Covid testing contracts worth an eye-watering £5 billion.
You can read the month long WhatsApp message chain in full here - which includes discussions on testing capacity, procurement and other issues:
The response to the Freedom of Information request can be read here:
A spokesperson for Lord Bethell said: "Stop misleading the public and publish the entire message thread so people can make their own minds up."
So far, I have found no mention of coffee orders, but I will keep digging.