After Hancock’s resignation: Criticism of the Johnson administration grows


Status: 06/27/2021 6:07 p.m.

In the wake of the resignation of the British Health Minister Hancock, criticism of Prime Minister Johnson is also growing. Not only the opposition accuses the government of a “character of failure” and “nepotism”.

Criticism of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his administration has grown following the resignation of UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who stumbled upon an affair with a close associate. The opposition, but also voices from within his own ranks, accuse him of holding on to Hancock for far too long, who has been under criticism for several months.

“The fish stinks from the head”

Those who set up the corona rules have to stick to them, said the conservative politician in a video from Saturday in which he announced his resignation and apologized to his family. The day before, the 42-year-old had admitted that he had violated distance rules – but initially refused to resign.

Boris Johnson, who initially backed Hancock, had been confronted with appeals from many quarters to fire his health minister: he was “hopelessly unjustifiable”. The parliamentary group leader of the Scottish SNP party, Ian Blackford, spoke of a “massive failure of leadership”. “The fish stinks from the head.” Labor Party’s Lucy Powell told Sky News that Johnson had “a very dangerous blind spot” on issues of integrity and conduct in public life. Some MPs from the ruling Conservatives also joined the calls.

In fact, Johnson had quickly put the affair of the health minister, who was smooching, to an end. After the first apology from his confidante, the prime minister announced that the case was closed. When the resignation could no longer be averted because more and more MPs from Johnson’s Conservative Party demanded Hancock’s end, the prime minister expressly praised his partner: “You can leave the office proud of what you have achieved,” he said to the 42-year-old .

Before or after the affair?

The newspaper “The Sun” published pictures on Friday showing the married minister kissing his advisor Gina Coladangelo. At the time of the recordings, there were strict distance rules to members of other households that Hancock had drawn up himself. Coladangelo is a friend of Hancock’s from their time together at Oxford University. Last year she got a post in his ministry.

This gives rise to an explosive question that the opposition is urging to investigate. So it must be clarified whether Hancock violated the regulations by hiring the 43-year-old – were the two already a couple when she signed the consultancy contract endowed with 15,000 pounds (around 17,500 euros) annual salary from the state treasury, or did they just get together then closer?

Criticized for months

Hancock is seen as the face of the UK government in the pandemic and has also served as a lightning rod at times. Again and again he faced the press, swarmed away critical topics and pointedly directed his gaze forward, praised the success of the vaccination campaign and the commitment of the nursing staff – also in his letter of resignation. For months, however, he had to fend off new accusations.

For example, a friend received a multi-million dollar order to supply corona protective equipment, even though he has no experience in this area. Then again he sank billions of pounds into an unsuitable corona test program. Johnson’s ex-advisor Dominic Cummings alleged that Hancock lied several times during the pandemic, the prime minister criticizing him as “completely hopeless” in a short message. “Matt Hancock’s legacy as Secretary of Health is one of nepotism and failure,” tweeted Liberal Democratic leader Edward Davey.

But Hancock survived all of that, partly with luck – until now. Without the success of the vaccination program it would have been sawed off long ago, commented the Sunday Telegraph. That he preached strict Corona rules and emphasized that he would not even hug his parents, but that he was caught kissing his colleague deeply – but that was ultimately too much for his Conservative Party.

Now Hancock had to submit his resignation. “The last thing I want is for my private life to divert attention from the single-minded focus that is leading us out of this crisis,” he wrote in his resignation letter. He also apologized again for breaking the rules and also to his family. He now wants to be with his three children.

The impression of nepotism remains

The Johnson administration will probably not shake off the impression of nepotism anytime soon. “This is a government of people who see politics less as an opportunity to serve their country and more as a game in which they can play regardless of the consequences,” commented “The Observer”. “Hancock’s position was untenable. But his resignation will not change the fundamental nature of our government as long as Boris Johnson remains Prime Minister.”

Johnson named all-purpose weapon Sajid Javid, who already held several cabinet positions – and who had resigned as finance minister in February 2020 in a dispute with the prime minister, as his successor. Hancock’s lover, who also has three children, also resigned from her post.



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