Leaked WhatsApp messages reveal Gavin Williamson’s appalling views on teachers

Williamson accused teachers of looking for an “excuse” not to work during the pandemic.

Leaked WhatsApp messages revealed exactly what former Secretary of Education Gavin Williamson thought about teachers during the pandemic.

Williamson’s appalling views came to light after thousands of Whatsapp messages were forwarded to the Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who helped Matt Hancock write his book “Pandemic Diaries” and who received the messages.

Messages reveal Williamson accused teachers of looking for an “excuse” not to work during pandemic.

Hancock sent a message to the then-secretary of education on Oct. 1, 2020, congratulating him on his decision to delay A-level exams by a few weeks.

He wrote: “Announcement cracked today. What a bunch of absolute asses the teachers’ unions are.

Williamson responded, “I know they really hate the work. ”

On another date, speaking of schools buying PPE, Williamson texted, “Some will just want to say they can’t so they have an excuse to avoid having to teach, what joys . ”

Following the revelations, Williamson was criticized by teachers’ unions.

National Education Union Co-Secretary General Dr. Mary Bousted tweeted, “Why am I absolutely not surprised to now have absolute confirmation that Gavin Williamson was not fit to be Secretary of Education. ”

“This is a terrible, cheap tribal stereotype,” said Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School & College Leaders (ASCL), at LBC.

Meanwhile, following the leaked messages, Hancock said he was the victim of “massive betrayal and breach of trust”. The former health secretary says he gave the messages to journalist Isabel Oakeshott while they were collaborating on his memoirs, but she later gave them to the Daily Telegraph.