Matt Hancock, the United Kingdom’s health secretary, has apologized for breaking England’s social distancing rules after images were released showing him kissing an aide.
The affair between Hancock and adviser Gina Coladangelo, both of whom are married, was revealed in security camera images reportedly taken from his office on May 6 by a whistleblower and published by the Sun newspaper on Friday.
“I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances. I have let people down and am very sorry,” Hancock, who has been widely criticized for his role in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, said in a statement, according to the outlet.
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The chairwoman of the U.K.’s Labour Party insisted that Johnson “should sack” Hancock over the scandal.
“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,” said Anneliese Dodds.
“The charge sheet against Matt Hancock includes wasting taxpayers’ money, leaving care homes exposed, and now being accused of breaking his own COVID rules,” Dodds added, saying, “His position is hopelessly untenable. Boris Johnson should sack him.”
Matt Hancock’s secret affair with closest aide https://t.co/gvalMx4khJ
— The Sun (@TheSun) June 25, 2021
However, Hancock said he remains “focused on working to get the country out of this pandemic” and that he “would be grateful for privacy for my family on this personal matter.”
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the leader “considers the matter closed” following Hancock’s apology.
“The health secretary set out that he accepted that he breached the social distancing guidelines,” the spokesperson said, adding, “Obviously, he has apologized for that. The prime minister has accepted the health secretary’s apology and considers the matter closed.”
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The development follows recent reports of Johnson’s lack of confidence in Hancock, who the prime minister strongly criticized early on during the coronavirus pandemic in private messages with a former top aide.
Johnson called Hancock’s work on expanding testing “totally f—ing hopeless” and considered replacing him, according to Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s former chief adviser.
