The Independent

Van-Tam tells inquiry his family was threatened with having their throats cut

Source: PA Media

One of the country’s top scientists received “extremely hateful messages” during the pandemic, including threats to his family about “having their throats cut”, the UK Covid inquiry has heard.

Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam said the hate mail, which led to the police getting involved, made him consider stepping down from his role as England’s deputy chief medical officer.

Sir Jonathan, who left the post at the end of March last year, said on Wednesday that while his job involved huge workloads and stress, he “did not expect my family to be threatened with having their throats cut”.

The vast majority of the population abhor such conduct, and we are enormously grateful to you and your colleagues for the way in which you

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Independent

The Independent2 min readCrime & Violence
Idaho Inmate Pleads Guilty To Escaping Hospital After Correctional Officers Are Attacked
An Idaho inmate who slipped custody from a hospital in March after a violent attack on corrections officers has pleaded guilty to escape, while still facing the possibility of two felony enhancements that could add to his sentence. Skylar Meade enter
The Independent2 min read
Adam Sandler To Reprise Happy Gilmore Role As Netflix Announces Sequel
Netflix has announced that a sequel to the classic golf comedy Happy Gilmore is in the works, with Adam Sandler returning to the titular role. The 1996 sports comedy follows Happy Gilmore, an ice hockey player with anger management issues who realise
The Independent4 min read
Trump’s ‘Surrogates’ Target Witnesses And The Judge’s Daughter. Could Their Actions Put Him In Jail?
One after the other, in press conferences steps outside a Manhattan courthouse, Donald Trump’s allies have repeated familiar attacks against the daughter of the judge presiding over the criminal case against the former president. They fired off simil

Related Books & Audiobooks