MATT Hancock’s mistress aide Gina Coladangelo was confronted over a possible romance with him two YEARS ago, it’s claimed.
The ex Health Secretary’s lover was ‘gently questioned’ back in 2019, but insisted nothing was going on, according to reports.
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Hancock himself is said to have told the Prime Minister the secret relationship only began weeks ago, in May.
But it’s thought it could have been going on for six months – while the Mail on Sunday reports there were suspicions long before that.
And the pair are understood to be serious, with allies insisting it’s “more than a fling” and Hancock is “serious” about it.
It comes as…
- Matt Hancock announced he was resigning almost 48 hours after his affair with his aide was exposed
- The Health Secretary told his wife he was leaving her as the affair was revealed
- Gina Coladangelo has left her position on the Department of Health board after the affair with Hancock
- Read Matt Hancock’s resignation letter in full
- Boris Johnson told Hancock ‘you should be proud of what you’ve achieved’ as he accepted his resignation
- Sajid Javid will be the new Health Secretary
The claims come as he left both his wife and job after pictures emerged of him kissing and cuddling the aide in a breach of coronavirus restrictions.
The Health Secretary quit his ministerial role and apologised to his family after the scandal was revealed by Trending In The News.
He told wife Martha he was leaving her on the night his affair was first revealed, it was reported.
According to Trending In The Newsday Times, she had no idea what was going on until he broke the news and announced their marriage was over, and had believed her marriage to be happy and stable.
One friend has revealed: “Matt and Gina are in love” – and while the relationship started just last month, “it is serious.”
Hancock was recorded kissing his aide on May 6 – while hugging was still banned as part of pandemic restrictions.
Just ten days later, the hypocrite warned Brits not to hug their loved ones.
Mrs Coladangelo is married to millionaire entrepreneur Oliver Tress, 54, who founded the High Street fashion and lifestyle chain Oliver Bonas.
They live in a £4million, six-bedroom Edwardian home.
It’s understood he’s been left devastated – and his wife was pictured packing up her car after she was told her affair would be exposed.
A friend of Mr Tress told the Mail on Sunday: “I imagine he is just falling apart over this.
“He had no idea that this was happening. He trusted them both.”
Last night, Hancock grovelled in an apology to Brits – although failed to specifically mention his wife, the mother of his three children.
Martha, who has maintained a dignified silence, has been seen out wearing her wedding ring since the scandal broke.
Hancock said: “I am writing to resign as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. We have worked so hard as a country to fight the pandemic.
“The last thing I would want is for my private life to distract attention from the single-minded focus that is leading us out of this crisis.
“I want to reiterate my apology for breaking the guidance, and apologise to my family and loved ones for putting them through this. I also need to be with my children at this time.
“We owe it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down as I have done by breaching the guidance.”
Ms Coladangelo, who has been a close friend of the former cabinet minister since university, was appointed as a non-executive director at the Department of Health and Social Care last year.
She has since stepped down from the £15,000-a-year role.
Former Chancellor and Home Secretary Sajid Javid will replace Matt Hancock as Health Secretary, Downing Street announced.
