Messages from his time as health secretary during the pandemic were leaked to the Daily Telegraph by the ghost writer of his book
The Daily Telegraph has published WhatsApp messages showing Matt Hancock, the then health secretary, and Sir Gavin Williamson, the then education secretary, criticising teaching unions, or some teachers generally.
It has published this exchange from May 2020, when Williamson wanted schools to be able to get PPE from local resilience forums (LRFs). Williamson said some schools did not want to re-open “to avoid having to teach”.
At almost 10pm Mr Hancock got in touch with his Cabinet colleague, writing: “Cracking announcement today. What a bunch of absolute arses the teaching unions are”
Sir Gavin responded: “I know they really really do just hate work”
It’s contemptible because we have to remind ourselves that this was an age of extraordinary anxiety. We hadn’t got vaccines.
And the government was starting to look to the teaching profession to welcome those young people back into school … 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.
Further to reports in the Telegraph and other outlets, I wish to clarify that these messages were about some unions and not teachers. As demonstrated in the exchange, I was responding regarding unions.
I have the utmost respect for teachers who work tirelessly to support students. During the pandemic, teachers went above and beyond during very challenging times and very much continue to do so.
Continue reading…Messages from his time as health secretary during the pandemic were leaked to the Daily Telegraph by the ghost writer of his bookThe Daily Telegraph has published WhatsApp messages showing Matt Hancock, the then health secretary, and Sir Gavin Williamson, the then education secretary, criticising teaching unions, or some teachers generally.It has published this exchange from May 2020, when Williamson wanted schools to be able to get PPE from local resilience forums (LRFs). Williamson said some schools did not want to re-open “to avoid having to teach”.At almost 10pm Mr Hancock got in touch with his Cabinet colleague, writing: “Cracking announcement today. What a bunch of absolute arses the teaching unions are”Sir Gavin responded: “I know they really really do just hate work”It’s contemptible because we have to remind ourselves that this was an age of extraordinary anxiety. We hadn’t got vaccines.And the government was starting to look to the teaching profession to welcome those young people back into school … 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.Further to reports in the Telegraph and other outlets, I wish to clarify that these messages were about some unions and not teachers. As demonstrated in the exchange, I was responding regarding unions.I have the utmost respect for teachers who work tirelessly to support students. During the pandemic, teachers went above and beyond during very challenging times and very much continue to do so. Continue reading…