Hancock ‘threatened to withhold funding for learning disability hub if rebelled against restrictions

Matt Hancock threatened to withhold funding for a learning disability center if the MP rebels against Covid restrictions, leaked WhatsApps suggest.

The former health secretary and an aide spoke of warning Bury North MP James Daly that a new center for disabled children and adults would be ‘off the table’ if he voted against the government, the government said. Telegraph‘s research.

Senior Conservative Jake Berry described the revelation as an ‘absolute disgrace’ and called for Mr Hancock to be taken to the House of Commons for questioning.

But Mr Hancock’s team said ‘what is being accused here never happened’, disputing the ‘entirely partial account’ based on a wealth of leaked WhatsApp messages.

The Telegraph said the discussion between Mr Hancock and political aide Allan Nixon took place ahead of a December 1, 2020 vote on the introduction of new Covid restrictions in England.

The former health secretary and an aide spoke of warning Bury North MP James Daly (pictured) that a new center for disabled children and adults would be ‘off the table’ if he voted against the government

Senior Conservative Jake Berry (pictured) described the revelation as an ‘absolute disgrace’ and called for Mr Hancock to be taken to the House of Commons for questioning

Mr Nixon said they should ‘dangle our top questions’ over some of the newest MPs to enter parliament in 2019 thanks to Boris Johnson’s general election victory.

For example, Mr Nixon suggested ‘James wants his Learning Disability Hub in Bury – whips ring him up and say the health team want to work with him to make this happen, but that will be off the table if he revolts’.

“The re-election of these guys depends on us in many cases, and we know what they want. We should seriously consider using it IMO,” he wrote.

Mr. Hancock’s answer was ‘yes 100%’.

Mr Daly, a Conservative MP, told the newspaper he was “appalled” and “disgusted” that the disability hub was being discussed as a way of forcing him to vote with ministers.

But he said the threat was never made to him.

Mr Hancock’s spokesman said: ‘As we have seen this repeatedly over the past week, it is completely wrong to take this wholly partial report as fact.

“What is being accused here never happened, showing the story is false and showing why such a biased, partial approach to the evidence is a big mistake, driven by people with vested interests and an ax to sharpen.

“The right place to objectively consider everything about the pandemic is in the public inquiry.”

But Mr Berry, a former Tory party chairman, said: ‘This is an absolute disgrace.

“Hancock must be dragged to the House of Commons bar first thing in the morning to be questioned on this.”