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Daniel Martin Deputy Political Editor 07 March 2023 1:09pm GMT Downing Street has rebuked Matt Hancock after it emerged that he had discussed a plan to block funding for a new disabled

centre to pressure a Tory MP to back lockdown restrictions. Leaked WhatsApp messages between the then health secretary and his political aide show how they discussed taking a plan for a

learning disability hub in Bury “off the table” if James Daly voted against the Government in December 2020. Asked whether this was not the way Rishi Sunak would like his ministers to

operate, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Of course. There are rules and guidelines which apply. “I can’t speak for the actions of a former government. I think you heard from

the Prime Minister, who said it’s important that the inquiry looks at all the issues in a complete way rather than relying on piecemeal bits of information. “You will know that funding

decisions are taken in line with strict guidelines to ensure value for money set out in the spending framework, and ministers’ departments are held accountable for their decisions.” Mr

Hancock’s message came ahead of the vote on Dec 1, 2020, on the introduction of a toughened local tiers system of restrictions for England. Allan Nixon, Mr Hancock’s political aide

overseeing relations with MPs in Parliament, messaged his boss on Nov 22, 2020, with a suggestion of how to ensure the backing of as many Tory MPs as possible from the 2019 intake: MP list -

Matt Hancock / Allan Nixon [1] Mr Daly – whose constituency is the most marginal in the UK mainland with a majority of just 105 – told The Telegraph he was “appalled” and “disgusted” that

the disability hub, for which he had been campaigning, had been discussed as a way of coercing him into voting with the Government.  He said he had never been contacted by the Whips’ Office

and no threat to block the scheme had been made. In response to The Telegraph’s revelations, the Liberal Democrats called on Mr Sunak to rule out ever restoring the whip to Mr Hancock. Daisy

Cooper, the party’s deputy leader, said: “This is a clear breach of the Ministerial Code. It’s sickening that Matt Hancock would even consider withholding funding from an MP if they didn’t

vote how he wanted them to. “Rishi Sunak should do the right thing and immediately rule out Matt Hancock having the Conservative whip restored. The Government also need to launch an inquiry

into whether other Conservative ministers have been using similar distasteful threats. “These leaked messages prove this Conservative government is unfit to govern and riddled in chaos.”