Tony Blair personally lobbied Matt Hancock to take UAE off the travel red list 'because he does a lot of business there', Pandemic Diaries claim

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Tony Blair personally lobbied Matt Hancock to get the UAE removed from the travel red list because 'he does a lot of business over there', the former health secretary has claimed.

Mr Hancock also allowed the former prime minister to dodge quarantine on his return from a signing ceremony at the White House in America.

The Pandemic Diaries reveal Mr Blair regularly contacted the Cabinet minister during 2020 to ask for favours or to discuss policy.

In one exchange in July 2020, Mr Blair protested that the United Arab Emirates was still on the quarantine red list, claiming they were only reporting hundreds of cases per day 'because they do so much testing'.

Mr Hancock said he had to 'resist the urge to ping back an eye-roll emoji at that old chestnut'. Mr Blair then argued 'the disease is well under control there', because 'virtually all the cases are in the migrant worker community and are asymptomatic'. 'Hmm', Hancock wrote in his diary.

Tony Blair personally lobbied Matt Hancock to get the UAE removed from the travel red list because 'he does a lot of business over there', the former health secretary has claimed

At the time, travellers from all countries bar selected 'low risk' exemptions – which included some European holiday destinations during the summer months – were required to isolate at home for two weeks.

But the former health secretary did allow Mr Blair to avoid spending 14 days in quarantine on his return from the US where he attended an event at the White House in September 2020.

The ex-PM had been invited to go to a signing ceremony for the peace treaty between Israel and the UAE, but the Foreign Office had refused to grant an exemption.

Mr Blair contacted Mr Hancock directly to say 'he's literally going in for the ceremony and flying straight out again', and that 'if he were a government minister, he'd have a diplomatic exemption'.

The Pandemic Diaries reveal Mr Blair regularly contacted the Cabinet minister during 2020 to ask for favours or to discuss policy

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Mr Hancock writes: 'I cannot believe the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office] is messing him around in this way. He's not a junior minister: he's a former prime minister.

'I told him that of course he should have an exemption and that I'd sort it right away. He sounded relieved and grateful.'

A month later when news of Mr Hancock's intervention hit the Press, he wrote: 'I make no apology: Blair may no longer be in government but he's a former prime minister and was quite clearly on diplomatic business. Even junior ministers are exempt from quarantine for such purposes.'

The 14-day self-isolation rule was put in place in June 2020 with fines of up to £1,000 for those who broke it. Until then Britons were 'advised… against all but essential international travel'.

During the summer travellers coming from some 'low risk' countries, including France and Spain, were given an exemption to allow summer holidays.

But there was chaos at borders and airports when quarantine was re-introduced at short notice amidst rising cases. The system of mandatory hotel quarantine was introduced in February 2021.

Mr Blair's lobbying over the travel red list is just one of many conversations with Mr Hancock reported in his diaries, revealing moments of both cooperation and tension.

In June 2021 the pair avoided 'fireworks' on the Andrew Marr Show after Mr Hancock accused Mr Blair's think-tank of a 'hostile' report on vaccine passports and the NHS app, saying it had 'a load of inaccuracies'.

Mr Blair replied the following Sunday morning saying it was 'all a bit of a misunderstanding'.

'In the event, he went out of his way to praise the app on Marr,' Mr Hancock said. 'He decently volunteered to say something supportive of me and the team any time it would help.'

But Mr Hancock twice accused the ex-PM of trying to take the credit for Government decisions. In December 2020, he claimed Mr Blair had 'got wind' that he was preparing to announce a longer period between the first and second vaccine doses, and 'is calling for it before it happens!'

Following the announcement, on December 30, he wrote: 'Who should pop up to claim credit but none other than Tony Blair! I let it pass. If he can help us land it, great.'

At the same time Mr Hancock contacts Mr Blair to counter his 'bonkers' suggestion that the vaccine effort should focus on students as they are most likely to spread the disease.

He wrote: 'Taking a deep breath, I stayed calm and messaged him suggesting we talk. 'Interesting piece on vaccines,' I began chirpily (I want to keep him onside).

'Then, some flattery, 'I think some of what you say is very wise.' Then, 'But other parts not quite right – would it be helpful to have a briefing'.

Mr Blair responded before dawn to accept the offer, and said: 'If there is anything you think shouldn't be said, happy to take on board.'

In January 2021 Mr Hancock reported that Mr Blair was involved behind-the-scenes in trying to secure extra vacine doses for the UK. He wrote: 'Mr Blair is again trying to be helpful and has been privately attempting to secure additional vaccines from Johnson & Johnson… worth a try.'

Mr Blair worked for the UAE via his private advisory firm Tony Blair Associates, which allowed him to make millions from an array of controversial clients including the UAE, oil companies and the authoritarian government of Kazakhstan.

He was accused of a conflict of interest in 2017, which he denied at the time, when it emerged he had been paid huge sums by the UAE while working as the UN's special envoy to the Middle East.

Before he wound the firm up, its website said it allowed Blair to provide 'strategic advice' on 'political and economic trends and governmental reform'.

Mr Blair was contacted for comment.

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