LABOUR leader Keir Starmer has blasted Boris Johnson for not sacking Matt Hancock after footage of his romantic clinch with a senior aide in his office was published by Trending In The News.
The Health Secretary quit today amid mounting pressure from colleagues over images of him kissing and cuddling Gina Coladangelo in a clear breach of coronavirus restrictions.
Follow our Matt Hancock live blog for all the latest updates on his affair
Mr Hancock resigned today, less than 48 hours after video footage was published by Trending In The News which shows of him kissing aide Ms Coladangelo.
She is also reportedly leaving her position on the board of the Department of Health.
Former Chancellor and Home Secretary Sajid Javid will replace Hancock as Health Secretary, Downing Street has announced.
Mr Johnson said he was “sorry” to receive Matt Hancock’s resignation as Health Secretary.
He said Mr Hancock “should leave office very proud of what you have achieved — not just in tackling the pandemic, but even before Covid-19 struck us”.
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
But Sir Kier, who led political reactions to the sensational resignation, asked why he was not sacked and allowed instead to resign.
He tweeted: “Matt Hancock is right to resign.
“But Boris Johnson should have sacked him.”
Hancock finally fell on his sword admitting he had “let down” the millions who had made painful personal sacrifices during the pandemic.
Support for the embattled minister had been dwindling after it emerged he told his wife he was leaving her on Thursday shortly after he learned that his affair with married Coladangelo was about to be exposed.
Martha Hancock had no idea her husband was having an affair until he broke the news and announced that their marriage was over, reports the Times.
Observers were quick to point out that he does not specifically mention his wife in his resignation letter to the Prime Minister.
In his resigination letter, Hancock wrote: “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.”
But Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey also condemned Mr Hancock time in office on Twitter, writing: “Matt Hancock’s legacy as Health Secretary will be one of cronyism and failure.
“And the fact that Boris Johnson thought Hancock could just carry on regardless brings the Prime Minister’s judgement into question once again.”
