
In the Daily Mirror, teachers respond to the messages in which Mr Hancock and the former education secretary, Sir Gavin Williamson, criticised them and their unions. One teacher tells the paper they were “beyond angry and frankly disgusted”. Another described the comments as “repugnant”. The paper’s leader column says teachers were “absolute heroes” during the pandemic – while the two ministers sent “puerile messages” like “silly schoolboys”. Mr Hancock says the messages are partial accounts spun with an agenda. Sir Gavin insists he was referring to some unions and not teachers.