It’s often said that women apologise too much. Sure, saying sorry is the right thing to do when you’ve genuinely hurt someone and feel remorse. But apologising for every little thing – particularly when you’ve done nothing wron…
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Boris Johnson Called Matt Hancock ‘Totally F**king Hopeless’ In WhatsApp Message
Boris Johnson called Matt Hancock “totally fucking hopeless” in a WhatsApp message to Dominic Cummings at the height of the Covid first wave, the former No.10 adviser has claimed.
Cummings on Wednesday published a bombshell series of WhatsApp conversations with the prime minister during 2020, which he said was evidence of Hancock’s poor performance during the pandemic.
In the messages, Johnson appears to describe Hancock’s work on boosting Covid testing and ventilator capacity as “hopeless”, and says the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS and care staff was a “disaster”, suggesting responsibility for it is removed from the health secretary and given to Michael Gove.
Downing Street refused to dispute the authenticity of the messages but said the PM has full confidence in Hancock.
But Cummings claimed No.10 was now lying in its defence of Hancock amid criticism of his performance in the pandemic, and warned that a public inquiry “cannot fix this” as it will not fully report back “until after this PM has gone”.
“Unlike other PMs, this one has a clear plan to leave at the latest a couple of years after the next election, he wants to make money and have fun not ‘go on and on’,” Cummings wrote in a blog.
“So we either live with chronic dysfunction for another [around] five years or some force intervenes.”
One of the key WhatsApp exchanges was dated March 27 2020, just after the UK was ordered into its first coronavirus lockdown.
86/ Evidence on the covid disaster: as the PM said himself, Hancock’s performance on testing, procurement, PPE, care homes etc was ‘totally fucking hopeless’, & his account to MPs was fiction: https://t.co/lur4Ddrddypic.twitter.com/JVGLCSov7v
— Dominic Cummings (@Dominic2306) June 16, 2021
In an initial message, Cummings explained to Johnson that the United States had ramped up Covid testing rapidly while the UK was lagging behind.
“US has gone from 2,200 tests a fortnight ago to 27,000 a week ago to 100,000 yesterday,” Cummings wrote at 12.09am.
“This is what we said we should do.
“Instead we are still stuck on about 5,000-7,000 and Hancock [is] saying today he’s ‘sceptical’ about getting to 10,000 by Monday which he said would ‘definitely’ happen on Tuesday.
“This means tens of thousands of NHS staff aren’t at work over the next critical three weeks – apart from my earlier point re: testing being integral to escape plan…”
Johnson replied six minutes later: “Totally fucking hopeless”.
The screenshot posted by Cummings then showed three missed calls from Johnson at 12.29am, which the aide explained was “the PM calling me to say he’d tested positive [for Covid”.
“I couldn’t find my phone buzzing, we spoke minutes later,” Cummings said.
In another message, earlier that day, Cummings told Johnson: “They’ve totally fucked up ventilators. I just heard officials admit we have been turning down ventilator offers because ‘the price has been marked up’.”
The PM replied: “It’s Hancock. He has been hopeless.”
In a third message, a month later on April 27 amid reports of PPE shortages across the country, Johnson writes: “On PPE it’s a disaster.
“I can’t think of anything except taking Hancock off and putting Gove on.”
Cummings goes on to explain that Gove’s department, the Cabinet Office, is “such a total shitshow I’m afraid this would have a severe risk of making it worse not better.”
The pair then agree to work on a plan to try and get then-Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill to “move duffers and put in good” people at the Cabinet Office to improve PPE procurement.
Cummings concludes his blog by suggesting questions for Johnson.
“Given [Hancock’s] failures on testing, care homes and PPE why did you keep in post a secretary of state you described yourself as ‘totally fucking hopeless’ and how many more people died as a result of your failure to remove him?”
Asked if the messages published by Cummings are genuine, the PM’s official spokesperson said: “Our focus is not examining those specific images but delivering on the public’s priorities.
“I don’t plan to get into the detail of what’s been published.”
They said Johnson has “worked very closely with the health and care secretary throughout and continues to do so”.
Asked if Johnson has full confidence in Hancock, the spokesperson said: “Yes.”
Jared Kushner Signs Book Deal To Tell ‘Truth’ About Trump Administration
Jared Kushner has signed a deal to write a memoir about his time as a senior White House adviser to his father-in-law, former President Donald Trump.
“His book will be the definitive, thorough recounting of the administration — and the truth about what happened behind closed doors,” Broadside publishing announced Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.
Kushner joins former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany as a chronicler of the tumultuous reign of Trump. Known by many as a mouthpiece for Trump’s lies about the pandemic and election, McEnany said on Tuesday that she had submitted her finished manuscript for For Such A Time As This: My Faith Journey Through The White House And Beyond.
Kushner, credited with brokering a peace deal between Israel and other regional powers, left his own troubling legacy as well. He was dogged by conflict-of-interest accusations and his leading role in the administration’s disastrous Covid-19 response, AP noted.
He’s come under fire for his dealings out of the White House as well. A Maryland judge ruled in April that his apartment company violated consumer protection laws by misleading tenants and not allowing them to see the units until move-in day.
Critics on Twitter had words for Kushner that probably won’t be showing up in his book jacket:
What makes them think that Jared Kushner will start telling “the truth” now? / Jared Kushner agrees book deal for ‘definitive’ account of Trump presidency https://t.co/iz0E5Bl3YN
— Dr Deborah Jones 🐿 🦥 (@deborahjonesnz) June 16, 2021
Jared Kushner’s signed a deal for a WH memoir. The book will be called:
1) My Story by The Guy My Parents Hired To Write It
2) How I Fixed The Middle East Shut Up Haters
3) Ivanka, Me And Our Lawyers: A Love Story
4) Staring Into Space: A Full-Time Job
5) I’m The President Of Me pic.twitter.com/e5fEA8PkMe— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) June 16, 2021
Does it come with a box of crayons or is that sold separately?
Jared Kushner has book deal, publication expected in 2022 https://t.co/UJXDFTGPyV— Pixie Dalton (@DaltonPixie) June 16, 2021
Emerging fiction writer:https://t.co/9lqW4UEFan
— Sheeza S (@allsoundnofury) June 16, 2021
Nope.
Jared Kushner agrees book deal for ‘definitive’ account of Trump presidency. pic.twitter.com/MD3utnH4JF— tisane (@tinasan05806292) June 16, 2021
#BREAKING Lying Con Man To Write Book About Lying Con Man https://t.co/jlR1WHJpRD
— John “Old Iron Pants” Kilby (@TheKilbyJoke) June 16, 2021
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GB News Hilariously Trolled Live On Air After Falling For The Oldest Trick In The Book
GB News has only been on the air for three days but it’s certainly been a memorable launch – just probably not for the right reasons.
Dodgy lighting and sound plagued the channel’s debut on Sunday, and on Wednesday, several big brands, including Ikea, started pulling their ads.
But now the channel has been well and truly played by some mischievous viewers who managed to trick two of its presenters with some pranks that are so old-school that even Bart Simpson can say “been there, done that”.
The “anti-woke” news channel regularly features calls from viewers, and while there will definitely be some genuine people called Mike Hunt and Mike Oxlong out there (Clue: say the names out loud), the chances of them both calling in within the space of a few hours of each other raised many an eyebrow.
Except the eyebrows belonging to presenters Michelle Dewberry and Simon McCoy.
Former Apprentice winner Michelle was presenting a segment titled “What Matters To You?” on Tuesday when a man supposedly named Mike Hunt contacted the studio.
It’s a technological car crash. Either there’s a real Mike Hunt out there, or someone was having a laugh… editorial discretion should be advised… #GBNewspic.twitter.com/jhCPl6cwdO
— Ian Pinnell (@ianpinnell) June 15, 2021
And just a few hours later, during a discussion about children’s diets on Simon and Alexandra Phillip’s show, Alex read out a note from viewer Mike Oxlong.
All going splendidly at Andrew Neil’s joke far-right TV station. Following on from Michelle Dewberry falling for the classic “Mike Hunt” prank call, here’s former Brexit Party MEP Alexandra Phillips live on air, reading out a message from one Mike Oxlong. pic.twitter.com/UuPcrLAUxv
— Nicholas Pegg (@NicholasPegg) June 16, 2021
Although none of the presenters cottoned on, the names did not go unnoticed by a very amused Twitter – so much so that “Mike Hunt” began trending…
When I was a trainee producer at Sky News, almost the first thing I was taught was never to put anyone called Mike Hunt on air … https://t.co/jno7HaQKNE
— Ruaridh Arrow (@ArrowontheHill) June 15, 2021
Both Mike Hunt and Mike Oxlong have been namechecked on GBNews. Hugh Janus and Amanda Hugankiss waiting in the wings
— Simon G (@chromered) June 15, 2021
They got done by a Mike Oxlong. Incredible pic.twitter.com/oLXD15cFQa
— Alan White (@aljwhite) June 15, 2021
#gbnews#DewbsandCo can’t believe they fell for Mike Hunt gag from Porkys ffs 😂 pic.twitter.com/gFruI0iGJi
— carwindowsmashed (@skywhistleblow1) June 15, 2021
GBNews falling for the old Mike Hunt gag so early in the game pic.twitter.com/evhOqvMqMD
— Prork (@Prork) June 15, 2021
Mike Hunt!! That’s older than me, and I’m the wrong side of 50 ffs!! #GBeebieshttps://t.co/7v3rn9S2WI
— MrsGlyndŵr 🏴🏴 (@MrsGlyndwr_) June 15, 2021
Mike Hunt and Mike Oxlong. They have presenters who fall for two of the oldest, most obvious elephant traps in broadcasting. Jesus H Corbett.
— Louis Barfe (@AlanKelloggs) June 15, 2021
“Moes”
“Hey, i’m looking for Mike Hunt?” pic.twitter.com/LRKkM1xKMw— Andrew (@_A_n_d_r_e_w_s) June 15, 2021
I’m afraid I’m imagining the person texting in as “Mike Hunt” cackling to themselves. V much broadcasting 101 to spot that
— Hannah Jane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) June 15, 2021
Finally after years of being cruelly barred from TV comment shows by overzealous editors Mike Hunt gets his moment in the sun… https://t.co/IIZGtAMI3A
— Jim Salveson (@Mr_Jimbob) June 15, 2021
I hate myself for finding GB News compelling viewing. It’s excruciating and hypnotising in equal measure. They have already read out viewer emails from Mike Hunt and Mike Oxlong, so it can only be a matter of time before Norma Snipples and Gloria Stitz have their say.
— Jane Fowler (@janefowler) June 15, 2021
Not only have GB News fallen for the old Mike Hunt gag, Mike Oxlong has also had a mention.
Wonderful, wonderful start to the day😂👍#GBNews— Bradders (@LondonPeaky) June 16, 2021
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