More than 100,000 WhatsApp messages. 2.3 million words - the equivalent of three copies of the King James Bible.  You’ve read the headlines about the Telegraph’s extraordinary examination of the Lockdown Files - and now you can hear from some of the journalists behind it.  Christopher Hope is joined by the woman with the WhatsApps, Isabel Oakeshott, and Investigations Editor Claire Newell, in the newsroom where it happened. The pair tell Chopper how the team found the stories among the many files, whether it's all been worth it, and they consider his challenges to beat the Expenses Scandal record of 30 front pages in a row.
Keep up to date with the latest stories from the Lockdown Files: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files/ For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/chopper |
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The Journalist and the Whistleblower:  The inside story of the Lockdown Files


 The Telegraph's weekly politics podcast, presented by Christopher "Chopper" Hope. The podcast has interviews with top politicians and commentators and analysis from the Telegraph’s Westminster team.&nbsp; Chopper's Politics is a must listen for those who want to understand British politics, delving into various aspects of policy, key players, and the internal movements of Westminster’s political parties. With a focus on the Conservative Party (Tories), the podcast examines the party’s policies, strategies, and ideologies. The podcast offers insights into prominent figures within the party, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson. With a keen eye on the ever-evolving political landscape, the podcast explores the impact of the Red Wall - the traditionally Labour-supporting areas in the North of England that shifted allegiance to the Conservatives in recent elections - and the dynamics between the Conservatives and the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer. In addition to Conservative and Labour politics, the podcast delves into the dynamics of other political parties like the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party providing analysis and discussions on their policies and strategies.&nbsp; The podcast widens its scope to include discussions on the political climate in London, with a particular focus on the leadership of Mayor Sadiq Khan. It delves into the intricacies of Westminster, the seat of British political power, and examines the notion of the Westminster Bubble, where decisions and discussions can sometimes appear disconnected from the realities of the wider population. With a strong emphasis on policy analysis, "Chopper's Politics" provides a platform for informed conversations surrounding British elections and their implications on topics such as geopolitics, foreign policy, international relations, and the evolving role of the United Kingdom in the global arena.

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News

Politics

In January 2021, the first Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccines made their way into people’s arms. By mid-march, 11 million people had received the jab. After successive lockdowns, it felt like a way out.  But now, more than two years on, storm clouds are gathering. Today, 80 of them are preparing to sue Astrazeneca. They say that until now, no one has wanted to hear their stories. So we’re telling them. Find out more: ‘We were told the vaccine was safe - but what happened has been life-changing’
Archive used in this episode from: BBC, Sky News, 10 Downing Street.
Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lockdown Files: Episode 6, The Forgotten Victims

In the face of major disasters, it is perhaps inevitable that there will be missteps. And when the dust settles, people are asked to account for their actions. How is history going to judge the government’s response to COVID? In this last episode of the Lockdown Files podcast, the investigations team at the Telegraph investigates potential mistakes at the heart of the pandemic response. Shutting schools, a lack of oversight with financial support and questions over whether lockdown would ever happen in the same way again. Finally, the team catches up with the latest news from the public inquiry and hears from a relative of someone who died as they watch the evidence unfold.
Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lockdown Files: Episode 5, The Fallout

Is it ever ok to scare the public? In this episode, the reporters dig into leaked messages which show a discussion between Matt Hancock and one of his team. They say “We frighten the pants off everyone with the new strain” and “When do we deploy the new variant”.  The exchanges speak to a so-called “Project Fear”, which prompts the team to ask government ministers about whether decisions made were the right ones…  We also speak to the adviser behind some of the government's messaging…  And to a mum whose children are still dealing with the fall out tells her family’s story.  
Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lockdown Files: Episode 4, Project Fear

Tens of thousands of care home residents died during the pandemic. Many people see it as the government’s biggest failure. Matt Hancock’s Whatsapp messages lifted the lid on conversations behind key decisions. But it wasn’t just the messages which were revealing… The team behind the Lockdown Files unearths new documents suggesting an unnerving offer made to care homes in Durham and Birmingham. 
Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lockdown Files: Episode 3, The Case on Care Homes

The Investigations team looks back on the early days of the pandemic. How prepared was the government? Was lockdown inevitable? But they hit a stumbling block - they may have 100,000 messages, but there’s a gap in March.  So the team decide that if they can’t read where those key decisions were made, they’d do the next best thing: speak to people who were in the room where it happened
Read more about the Lockdown Files here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/lockdown-files | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/lockdownfilespodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on lockdownfiles@telegraph.co.uk | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Journalist and the Whistleblower: The inside story of the Lockdown Files

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