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How long can Simon Case cling on?

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It’s not been a great day for the Civil Service. First it’s announced that Partygate prober Sue Gray has been offered the role of Chief of Staff for the Leader of the Opposition. And now the Telegraph has released WhatsApps that show Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, mocking those affected by the government’s lockdown policies. Talk about classy, eh?

As Britain began a forced quarantine for returning holidaymakers in February 2021, Case messaged Matt Hancock to ask ‘Any idea how many people we locked up in hotels yesterday?’ After the Health Secretary replied ‘None but 149 chose to enter the country and are now in quarantine hotels due to their own free will!’ Case responded ‘Hilarious.’

Days earlier, Hancock had remarked on how ‘We are giving big families all the suites and putting pop stars in the box rooms’ to which Case had retorted ”I just want to see some of the faces of people coming out of first class and into a Premier Inn shoe box.’

Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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