Instead, Oakeshott leaked the entire archive of messages to the Daily Telegraph, which is planning days of critical stories about Hancock's role in the pandemic.
Setting aside the merits of the news stories being underpinned by the trove of messages, Conservative MPs and political journalists have expressed some astonishment that Hancock entrusted his private correspondence to Oakeshott.
A journalist who has long made clear her disdain for his lockdown policies, she has been accused of having a poor track record when it comes to source protection.
As Robert Colvile, the director of the rightwing Centre for Policy Studies thinktank and co-author of the 2019 Tory manifesto, said: "The main lesson I've learned from this is not to hire someone who absolutely hates your signature policy as your ghostwriter." One political journalist said: "The man needs his head testing to have gone near Oakeshott with a flaming trebuchet, let alone a bargepole." Oakeshott handed Hancock's messages to the Daily Telegraph despite being paid a rumoured six-figure salary by Rupert Murdoch's News UK to be a pundit on its struggling TalkTV channel.
Staff at the Sun and the Times have been left fuming that they are now trying to follow up a story given to a rival newspaper by one of their own employees, while TalkTV has missed out on a scoop that could have helped it in its ratings battle with GB News. Oakeshott told the Guardian she is only employed by TalkTV on a freelance basis and is therefore able to work for other publications.
Oakeshott wrote that she was morally obliged to leak the messages because "a great deal of material that is in the public interest" was left out of Hancock's book, published in December.
This story is from the March 02, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 02, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
England suffer as Masood and Shafique turn up heat
For weeks Pakistan teased England with talk of green pitches and seamer-friendly conditions, and then in the final hours before the opening game they peeled off the covers, shaved off anything betraying any evidence of chlorophyll, gave the heavy roller a final, deathly spin and, once the coin had fallen in their favour, told the tourists to do their best.
Russian court jails US citizen, 72, accused of fighting for Ukraine's army
A 72-year-old American citizen has been sentenced to six years and 10 months in prison by a Russian court that convicted him of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.
US election Will white women's shift to the left prove decisive?
White female voters have been the backbone of the Republican party for decades - but polls indicate their support may be faltering, thanks to younger white women who are moving steadily leftwards.
Pakistan outlaws Pashtun group as government seeks to stifle dissent
Pakistani authorities have unleashed a draconian crackdown on dissent, breaking up opposition protests with violence and mass arrests and banning a movement to promote the rights of the ethnic Pashtun community under terrorism laws.
Nobel prize awarded to two US researchers for discovery of microRNA
The Nobel prize in physiology or medicine 2024 has been awarded to two scientists for their work on tiny RNA molecules that help cells control which proteins they produce.
Coroner urges health secretary to fix lack of ME care provision
A coroner has urged the UK health secretary, Wes Streeting, to address the \"non-existent\" care available to people with severe ME or risk further deaths like that of Maeve Boothby O'Neill.
Concerns in Telegraph newsroom over bidder's hardline views on Israel
Concern is mounting across the Telegraph newsroom over the threat to editorial impartiality and influence, as the New York Sun owner, Dovid Efune, is poised to enter exclusive talks to buy the Daily and Sunday Telegraph.
Chagos deal: Lammy hails handover of islands as 'a victory for diplomacy'
David Lammy has hailed the decision to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as a deal to save a strategically important UK-US military base, after accusations from opposition MPs that an important asset was being given away.
Vardy challenges 'sheer magnitude' of Rooney's £1.8m legal bill for libel trial
Rebekah Vardy has challenged the \"sheer magnitude\" of Coleen Rooney's £1.8m legal costs from the \"Wagatha Christie\" libel trial, which include her lawyer's stay at the Nobu hotel and minibar bill, the high court has been told.
Gaza The oldest and youngest victims of Israeli attacks
Israel-Gaza war One yearon
