The journalist who turned a confidential book project into a political firestorm
In short: When Matt Hancock trusted Isabel Oakeshott to help write his pandemic memoir, he didn't realize his private WhatsApp messages would soon become the centerpiece of a national scandal. Her decision to leak over 100,000 messages changed the course of British political reporting.
Isabel Oakeshott, a prominent right-wing British journalist, became a central figure in UK political discourse through her controversial handling of sensitive information. While working on the book 'Pandemic Diaries' with former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Oakeshott obtained access to more than 100,000 of his WhatsApp messages. Despite being bound by a contractual confidentiality agreement, she passed these communications to The Daily Telegraph, which began publishing them in February 2023 as the 'Lockdown Files.'
The leak exposed the inner workings of decision-making during the COVID-19 lockdowns, involving high-ranking figures such as Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. Oakeshott defended her actions as being in the public interest, driven by her long-standing opposition to lockdown policies. The fallout was significant; Hancock described the leak as a 'big mistake' and pursued legal action against her.
Oakeshott's career is marked by similar high-stakes reporting. In 2019, she published leaked diplomatic memos from Sir Kim Darroch, the British Ambassador to the US, which led to his resignation. Her work often involves close ties to influential figures, such as Conservative donor Michael Ashcroft, with whom she has co-authored several books, including the controversial biography 'Call Me Dave.'
Beyond leaks, her career has navigated legal and regulatory scrutiny. In 2013, she played a role in the conviction of Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce. More recently, in 2024, her comments regarding young people on benefits led to a complaint to Ofcom. However, by May 2025, the regulator dismissed the complaint, ruling that her provocative opinions were within the bounds of what viewers of her programme would expect.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Isabel Oakeshott
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