Matt Hancock has admitted breaking social distancing guidelines after pictures emerged of him kissing an aide.<\/p>\n
Questions about Mr Hancock hiring former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo surfaced after pictures in The Sun newspaper showed Mr Hancock, who is married, embracing the aide in his office.<\/p>\n
“I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances,” the health secretary said.<\/p>\n
“I have let people down and am very sorry.”<\/p>\n
According to the newspaper, the images, which appear to be from CCTV footage, were taken on 6 May from the Department of Health and Social Care building.<\/p>\n
At the time the picture was reportedly taken, hugging anyone outside your household or bubble was not allowed.<\/p>\n
The government’s roadmap out of COVID restrictions said people should maintain their distance from anyone not in their household or support bubble until 17 May.<\/p>\n
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called on Boris Johnson to sack the health secretary<\/strong>, but Mr Hancock made clear in his statement that he wants to continue.<\/p>\n “I remain focused on working to get the country out of this pandemic, and would be grateful for privacy for my family on this personal matter,” he said.<\/p>\n The Sunday Times reported in November that Mr Hancock had failed to declare he had appointed Ms Coladangelo as an unpaid adviser on a six-month contract last March and later gave her a role on the board of the Department of Health.<\/p>\n Ms Coladangelo, who is listed on the department’s website as a non-executive director, is the marketing and communications director at British retailer Oliver Bonas, which was founded by her husband Oliver Tress.<\/p>\n Her LinkedIn profile says she has been working as a non-executive director at the Department of Health since September 2020 and was at Oxford University at the same time as the health secretary.<\/p>\n Mr Hancock has been married to his wife Martha for 15 years and they have three children together.<\/p>\n Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds said: “If Matt Hancock has been secretly having a relationship with an adviser in his office – who he personally appointed to a taxpayer-funded role – it is a blatant abuse of power and a clear conflict of interest.<\/p>\n “The charge sheet against Matt Hancock includes wasting taxpayers’ money, leaving care homes exposed and now being accused of breaking his own COVID rules.<\/p>\n “His position is hopelessly untenable. Boris Johnson should sack him.”<\/p>\n Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “Matt Hancock is a terrible health secretary and should have been sacked a long time ago for his failures.<\/p>\n “This latest episode of hypocrisy will break the trust with the British public. He was telling families not to hug loved ones, while doing whatever he liked in the workplace.<\/p>\n “It’s clear that he does not share the public’s values. Rules for them and rules for us is no way to run a country.”<\/p>\n