As of: 06/26/2021 9:12 p.m.
In the middle of the fight against the Delta variant, the British Minister of Health Hancock has resigned. The media had previously reported an affair with an employee. Hancock has been criticized for a long time.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has resigned following reports of an affair with a close associate. The conservative politician said in a video that anyone who sets up the corona rules has to adhere to them. The 42-year-old admitted on Friday that he violated distance rules. However, he initially refused to resign.
Boris Johnson had been confronted with appeals from many quarters to fire his health minister: He was “hopelessly unjustifiable.” Some MPs from the ruling Conservatives also joined the calls. The Prime Minister has now accepted the resignation. Hancock can be proud of what he achieved before and during the pandemic, Johnson said.
Before or after the affair?
The newspaper “The Sun” published pictures on Friday showing the married minister kissing his adviser Gina Coladangelo. At the time of the recordings, there were strict rules of distance 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.
The opposition therefore calls for an investigation into whether the minister hired his alleged lover, who is also married, before the start of the affair or only afterwards.
Not the first slip up
Hancock is believed to be the face of the UK government in the pandemic. Despite numerous allegations, he has so far been able to stay in office. For example, a friend received a multi-million dollar order to supply corona protective equipment, even though he has no experience in this area.
But 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.