Demand for Matt Hancock to step down – or for Boris Johnson to take action – is growing over footage of the Health Secretary kissing a close associate, in violation of COVID-19 regulations.
A video of Mr. Hancock, who is married, kissing Gina Coladangelo was published by The Sun newspaper on Friday night, following still images of the CCTV clip earlier today.
North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker on Saturday became the first Tory MP to openly call for Mr Hancock’s departure, making a statement to his local newspaper, the Eastern Daily Press, saying he “does not condone in any way this behavior”.
Esther McVey, Tory MP for Tatton, later told GB News that he would be “more admirably regarded” if he resigned rather than “be forced upon him”.
Speaking to Sky News on Saturday, former Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell called Mr Hancock’s role “untenable”, and current shadow Minister of Health and Welfare Alex Norris also said that Mr. Hancock is expected to resign. The SNP also said the prime minister “risked jeopardizing vital public health measures” by retaining Mr Hancock.
The latest calls follow the COVID-19 campaign group Bereaved Families for Justice describing the Prime Minister’s support for Mr Hancock as a ‘slap in the face’ for families who had lost loved ones to the virus, and a Labor spokesman accusing Mr Johnson of being “soft”.
An instant poll by Savanta ComRes, released hours after photographs of the couple kissing in Mr Hancock’s ministerial office, also found that 58% of UK adults think Mr Hancock should step down – compared with 25% who do not do not.
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Mr Hancock admitted he “let people down” and said he was “very sorry”. Mr Johnson said he accepts the Health Secretary’s apology and “is looking into the matter …
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-06-26 11:39:00