Commenting on texts revealed by the Telegraph showing a battle between ministers over Covid and closing schools during lockdown, including disparaging comments made about teachers and teaching unions, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“This ugly exchange demonstrates the chaos and duplicity at the heart of government. The relationship I had with Gavin Williamson is not reflected in this exchange. How can any trust develop when the secret contempt for teachers and the teaching profession is laid bare like this. We must not forget Covid was rampant in schools and the whole school community was managing life threatening risk in the most difficult of circumstances.”