- Title: UK health minister quits after breaking rules with affair
- Date: 26th June 2021
- Summary: SUB-HEADLINE READING (English): "IT'S AMAZING HE WAS SO BRAZEN ABOUT IT AS HE IS SECRETARY OF STATE" SUB-HEADLINE READING (English): "IT'S SHOCKING HE WAS HAVING AFFAIR WITH AIDE HE USED PUBLIC MONEY TO HIRE" VARIOUS OF HEADLINE READING (English): "STEAMY CLINCHES IN OFFICE AS COVID RAGED ON" SUB-HEADLINES READING (English): "HEALTH SEC'S FLING DURING COVID" / "HE HIRED GINA AS TOP ADVISER" / "SNOGS IN OFFICE... CHEATS ON WIFE" LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 25, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREENWICH RESIDENT, JEFF (LAST NAME NOT PROVIDED), SAYING: "No, it's not a personal matter, but in the great scheme of things, I wouldn't have it down as a hanging offence. I think probably his shortcomings as a minister are far more disturbing to me than his shortcomings in his personal judgement." (SOUNDBITE) (English) 19-YEAR-OLD KENT RESIDENT, CHARLIE IRWIN, SAYING: (STANDING WITH HIS FRIEND MAX BENNETT, TALKING ABOUT PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON SAYING THE MATTER IS CLOSED) "I don't think it should be closed. I think it's a disgrace. First of all, breaking social distancing rules. I mean, you know, they are so onto us about, you know, 'you can't do this, you can't do that,' and then to go and break them... Bearing in mind you're performing adultery, as well. I think that's a disgrace, in my opinion."
- Embargoed: 10th July 2021 18:21
- Keywords: Boris Johnson Britain COVID Gina Coladangelo Matt Hancock NHS UK coronavirus health minister health secretary scandal
- Location: LONDON AND OXFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
- City: LONDON AND OXFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00GEJ2916V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Britain's health minister Matt Hancock quit on Saturday (June 26) after he was caught breaking COVID-19 rules by kissing and embracing an aide in his office, enraging colleagues and the public who have been living under lockdown.
The 42-year-old wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign after The Sun newspaper published photos of the married minister embracing a woman he had appointed to a taxpayer-funded role to scrutinise the performance of his department.
Hancock has been at the centre of the government's fight against the pandemic, routinely appearing on the television and radio to tell people to follow the strict rules to contain the virus.
"We owe it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down as I have done by breaching the guidance," he said in the letter.
Johnson said in reply that he was sorry to receive it.
"You should be immensely proud of your service," he wrote. "I am grateful for your support and believe that your contribution to public service is far from over."
The Sun showed Hancock kissing the aide in his office last month, at a time when it was against the rules for people to have intimate contact with a person outside their household.
(Production: Paul Warren, Mussab Al-Khairalla) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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