Should Matt Hancock resign? Gazette readers have their say on Health Secretary's job

The minister this week issued an apology for breaching “the social distancing guidance” and said he was “very sorry” following the publication of pictures in The Sun newspaper on Friday, June 25, which showed him kissing Gina Coladangelo.

A video of Mr Hancock in an embrace with Gina Coladangelo, an aide at the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), was also published on Friday.

In a statement that same day, Mr Hancock said: “I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances, I have let people down and am very sorry.

“I remain focused on working to get the country out of this pandemic, and would be grateful for privacy for my family on this personal matter.”

Following his statement, a Downing Street spokesman said Prime Minister Boris Johnson accepted the apology and “considers the matter closed”.

Mrs Coladangelo is a friend of the Health Secretary’s from their days together at Oxford University. She was appointed to the DHSC in 2020.

Calls for Mr Hancock to go have continued, with dozens of Gazette readers sharing their opinions on our Facebook page.

Here are some of your comments:

Carol Jobson: “I am so angry about this. My elderly friend died and we had to sit so far apart and unable to comfort anyone.”

John Allen: “Question is ... will he be fined?”

Dawn Chapman: “Why should he be any different?”

Paul Elder: “Why? What has it got to do with anybody but the people involved.”

Andrew Collins: “Absolutely. An utter embarrassment.”

Mattie Jeffels: “Boris has deemed the matter closed so he won’t be going anywhere.”

Pete Davies: “One rule for them, another for us.”

Anne Pearne: “He should resign or be sacked.”

Janet Green: “I lost two close members of my family this last year and we all stuck to the rules. This is totally unforgivable.”

Vicki Gardiner: “He shouldn’t be given the option to resign, he should be sacked.”

Dave Greaves: “Not even up for debate! He should’ve gone a long time ago.”

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