Professor Chris Whitty abuse: what happened to chief medical officer as video shows him being insulted in the street

‘Mandem is a liar’ – the abuse directed at Prof Whitty has been circulated on Twitter, and called ‘pathetic’ by Matt Hancock

A video which appears to show England's chief medical officer being verbally abused on the street has been branded “pathetic” by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

It was first brought to attention on Twitter by Conservative MP Matt Vickers, who posted the video on 2 February, and called it “appalling”.

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"I really can’t believe this footage,” the MP for Stockton South said. “Chris Whitty is doing all he can to help guide us through this crisis and should never be subjected to this abuse.”

Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty arriving at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall in 2020 (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty arriving at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall in 2020 (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty arriving at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall in 2020 (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
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The MP went on to suggest the person who made the clip be made to volunteer on a Covid-19 ward.

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What happened to Chris Whitty?

Prof Whitty - who is waiting for a takeaway lunch order at a street stall - does not respond to the taunts in the video (Photo: TikTok)Prof Whitty - who is waiting for a takeaway lunch order at a street stall - does not respond to the taunts in the video (Photo: TikTok)
Prof Whitty - who is waiting for a takeaway lunch order at a street stall - does not respond to the taunts in the video (Photo: TikTok)

The clip contains footage of Professor Chris Whitty being accused of “lying” about Covid-19 while out walking near Westminster.

In the video, Prof Whitty is berated by a young man, who is heard and seen repeatedly telling Whitty he is a “liar”.

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The footage – taken at Westminster’s Strutton Ground market – shows Whitty waiting for a takeaway lunch order at a street stall, as the young unmasked male accuses him of not telling the truth “about the Covid-19 cases”.

“Liar. You’re a liar. Mandem is a liar. You’re a liar. You lie about the Covid-19 cases. Stop lying to the TV, man,” says the person behind the camera. Prof Whitty does not respond to the taunts.

The video is undated, and was reportedly posted on social media platform TikTok, though it does not appear to feature the branded logo it would adorn had it been posted there.

In a statement, Vickers said the chief medical officer is working “day in and day out to help guide our nation through this unprecedented crisis” and I think all of us, no matter your political affiliation can agree the man is doing his absolute best.”

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“As the clouds of this pandemic continue to part, I think those like Prof Chris Whitty will be seen as heroes who stepped up, did their job and led us through the darkest of hours.

"As for the young man in the video, the less said the better. Perhaps he should be made to volunteer on a Covid ward. Perhaps then he will feel a pinch of shame and embarrassment for his dangerous conspiracies and yobbish behaviour.”

What has Matt Hancock said?

The person who insulted Prof Whitty has been branded “pathetic” by Matt Hancock, who told BBC Breakfast: “I think the individual concerned is pathetic, I think it is ridiculous what he is doing.

“Chris Whitty is one of our greatest living scientists and his advice to the Government all the way through this, and his advice to all of us in the population, has been incredibly smart and thoughtful, and he is a great asset to this nation.

“The idea that someone would do something as silly as that is ridiculous,” he added. “Chris Whitty is a scientist of great repute and, frankly, he should be respected by everybody.”