Former education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson opposed introducing face masks in schools during the pandemic because he was in 鈥渘o surrender mode鈥 and 鈥渄idn鈥檛 want to give an inch鈥 to unions, a senior official claimed. In WhatsApp evidence presented at the Covid inquiry, the country鈥檚 top civil servant Simon Case claimed Williamson said they should 鈥渉old firm鈥 on the decision on no masks in schools. This is despite early research suggesting 鈥渟ome evidence鈥 masks could reduce transmission 鈥減articularly in poorly ventilated and crowded indoor spaces鈥. ‘Lives put at risk over political vendetta’ Kate Bell, assistant general secretary at the TUC union, said the Conservatives “put politics before people”, adding: “Education leaders righty raised concerns about the need to protect staff and children in schools. “But these warnings were dismissed out of hand due to vindictiveness towards unions. “Parents, pupils, school staff and the public will be horrified to learn that lives were put at risk because ministers were pursuing a petty political vendetta. This can never happen again.” Dominic Cummings, ex-chief adviser to the former prime minister Boris Johnson, had asked Case on August 26, 2020 鈥渨hat鈥檚 the true reason鈥 for a U-turn on masks. Case replied that they recommended to Johnson “weeks ago” they create 鈥減ermissive guidance鈥 around masks 鈥渂ecause we could foresee it was going to be a drama鈥 in September. Williamson then discussed it at a Covid meeting but because at that stage 鈥渋t was unions pressing for masks (no science back-up), Gavin was in ‘no surrender’ mode and didn鈥檛 want to give an inch to the unions, so said we should hold firm”. Case said Johnson gave him 鈥渇ull support in this approach鈥. U-turn days before on masks The day before, on August 25, 2020, it was revealed how staff and older pupils would be expected to wear face coverings in schools following the government U-turn. It followed growing pressure in the wake of a similar decision in Scotland and changes to World Health Organisation guidelines. Weeks earlier, on July 24, parliamentary 鈥渞apid response鈥 there was 鈥渟ome evidence鈥 masks could reduce transmission 鈥減articularly in poorly ventilated and crowded indoor spaces鈥. They could also 鈥渙ffer some protection by limiting transmission of virus from the wearer鈥. Cummings evidence to the Covid inquiry In his message, Case said he advocated the shift because 鈥渨e cannot hold a line on anything,鈥 adding: 鈥淗olding firm successfully would have meant Chris [Whitty, chief medical officer] and Patrick [Vallance, former chief scientific adviser] publicly saying WHO/Scotland wrong on science, which they wouldn鈥檛 do. 鈥淚t also would have meant PM holding a position under sustained attack, which he won鈥檛 do. All of this would have further dented patent (sic) confidence in safety of schools, resulting in increasing our chances of succeeding in the key test of this period (getting schools open next week).鈥 He concluded Johnson 鈥渂acks bullshit 鈥榥o surrender鈥 ideas from鈥 some ministers including Williamson and 鈥渢otally regrets it later鈥, adding: 鈥淲e really, really need a reshuffle and totally new approach to how this gov鈥檛 works.鈥 Case also said that if it wasn鈥檛 鈥渇or shadow of exams fiasco, it wouldn鈥檛 have been such a 鈥楿-turn鈥 issue鈥. That summer, ministers were also forced to U-turn and award students centre assessed GCSE and A-level grades after widespread criticism of its approach after exams had been cancelled. ‘Prioritised point scoring’ He also added “the team can’t deliver anything under these circumstances. A weak team (as we have got – Hancock, Williamson …) Definitely cannot succeed in these circs. IT HAS TO STOP!” Williamson was knighted in May last year. Leaked text messages earlier this year also revealed Williamson had said unions “really really do just hate work”. Daniel Kebede, National Education Union general secretary, said several weeks before the WhatsApp exchange, the union had highlighted the role of masks with Williamson. Kebede said Williamson “prioritised point scoring over serious engagement with the representatives of hundreds of thousands of education workers about the best way of suppressing the spread of Covid-19 in schools”. A government spokesperson said: “We have always said there are lessons to be learnt from the pandemic and we are committed to learning from the Covid Inquiry鈥檚 findings which will play a key role in informing the government鈥檚 planning and preparations for the future.” Williamson’s office has been approached for comment.
James Little 31 October 2023 Some in education, indeed some in government, contribute. They add something of value. Williamson – when he鈥檚 actually even thought about for a nanosecond – will be remembered for offering absolutely nothing of value to education (sounds like most ministers of the office doesn鈥檛 it?).