credit, Getty Images
Matt Hancock was photographed leaving Downing Street with Gina Coladangelo on May 1
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock admits an assistant broke social distancing orientation after photos of him kissing were published in a British newspaper.
He said he told the “disappointed people” he himself had nominated for the position after photos surfaced of him with Gina Coladangelo, and “sorry.”
Since then, the Labor Party has put heavy pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to sack Hancock, saying the situation is “untenable”.
But people close to the prime minister say Boris Johnson has accepted Hancock’s apology and has “closed the case.”
Asked whether the prime minister has “absolute confidence” in Hancock, Boris Johnson’s spokesman replied: “Yes.”
Newspaper Sunhandjob The person who published the images claimed that the photos of Hancock and Colladenzello, both married with children, were taken within the Department of Health in early May 2021.
Social distancing in the workplace is not a legal requirement, but is recommended by the government.
People are advised to keep 2 meters or 1 meter apart with risk mitigation whenever possible.
On 6 May, when England was still in Phase 2 of the COVID-19 restrictions, indoor meetings were allowed for work purposes, but only when “very necessary”.
Labor Party chairman Annalies Dodds said: “If Matt Hancock is secretly in a relationship with an adviser in his office, whom he personally appointed to a taxpayer-funded role, that would be a blatant abuse of power.” And there is a clear conflict of interest.” .
“His position is hopelessly unstable. Boris Johnson should fire him.”
And the party said it would not let the matter go down after people close to the prime minister said it considered the matter “closed”.
“The matter is certainly not closed, despite the government’s efforts to cover it up,” a spokesperson said.
A government spokesman said Colladenzello’s appointment was made “in the usual manner” and that “the correct procedure was followed”.
And, in a statement, Hancock, a 42-year-old man and father of three children, said: “I acknowledge that I have broken social distancing in these circumstances. I have let people down, and I am sorry.
credit, PA Media
The Labor Party is putting enormous pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to sack Hancock
“I am focused on working to get the country out of this pandemic and will be grateful for my family’s privacy in this personal matter.”
The story was published hours after Hancock canceled a visit to a COVID-19 vaccination center at Newmarket Racecourse in the West Suffolk constituency this Friday morning (06-25) Sun.
‘hypocrisy’
Colladangelo, who has known health secretary since working together at Oxford University Student Radio, was appointed non-executive director of the health department in September 2020.
He receives a salary of 15,000 pounds (R$ 102 thousand) for the ceremony, which takes between 15 and 20 working days a year.
The Liberal Democrats are calling on Hancock to resign and accuse him of “hypocrisy” in social distancing.
Health spokeswoman Munira Wilson said: “He was telling families not to hug their loved ones in the workplace for whatever they want.”
International Development Secretary Liz Truss told the BBC: “I have support (in the cabinet) for (Hancock). This is a private matter.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the program Today, gives bbc radio 4: “I think for a long time there has been an absolute distinction between what people do in their work … and what they do in their personal lives.”
Hancock has been married for 15 years to Martha, an osteopathic physician. Colladangelo, 43, is married to Oliver Tress, the founder of Oliver Bonas, a women’s clothing and accessories store.
In May 2020, epidemiologist Professor Neil Ferguson resigned from the government’s Scientific Advisory Group (SAGE) after he learned that he had violated blocking rules when a woman he was in a relationship with visited his home. .
At the time, Hancock called Ferguson’s actions “absurd”, adding that the rules of social distancing were “for everyone” and “deadly serious”.
This Friday, Wales’ Labor Prime Minister Mark Drakeford said Hancock was “quick to condemn” Ferguson, adding: “Certainly here in Wales, I always expect all my ministerial staff to follow those rules.” which we hope others will follow.
“We cannot and are not prepared to make laws for other people.”
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