1

Date From To Text

21/08/2015 Martin McKee Sally Davies Dear Sally, as you might expect, I’m doing a response to the PHE report for the BMJ. See attached – currently with their lawyers for clearance…. so not sure what will finally come out. However, I thought you should know what I have discovered about the genesis of the 95% figure. I’ve summarised it in the attached, but have much much more, and it will really not reflect well on PHE at all…. (as you will see I fully endorse what you say, both here and in a Lancet piece coming out next week that does not go into the murky depths) Happy to talk by phone Martin

22/08/2015 Sally Davies Martin McKee Ahh What a mess

22/08/2015 Martin McKee Sally Davies It really is… I’m very concerned about how to handle this …. including for myself I have to confess. But I want to ensure that you don’t get any surprises… Kevin and Duncan have been challenged reportedly on this (including by me but they never reply to me ….) and DPHs in the NW are livid – there is a draft open letter circulating (I’m not involved in that). At present only you, me, Tony Delamothe, Simon Capewell and Simon Chapman know we have found that the 95% figure that Duncan made so prominent in his foreword and Kevin has been announcing to the world was originally created by BAT…. Professor Martin McKee CBE

24/08/2015 Martin McKee Sally Davies Dear Sally, I’ve attached the BMJ editorial as it is now, after legal clearance. However it is on hold for now. We want to make sure that it does the maximum good and has the minimum unintended consequences and, especially, that we avoid any damage to PHE (notwithstanding how they treat me….) I haven’t heard from your office but it would be good if you have even a few minutes to talk before I fly out tomorrow morning. I don’t want to do anything before we speak. Martin