Politics
Sinead Butler
Jun 25, 2021
Matt Hancock told the public to to be âcarefulâ when hugging others just ten days after CCTV footage appeared to show him kissing and embracing a married colleague â and itâs safe to say the clip hasnât aged well.
On May 16, Hancock told Sky News that he planned to hug his parents when the restrictions on physical contact ended the next day, but said he would only do it outdoors in order to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Hancock also said people should be âcarefulâ if hugging despite their âyearningâ for physical contact.
âWe should all be careful, we all know the risks⦠Of course there are people who have been yearning to have some physical contact,â he said. âYou should do that carefully. If youâve had both jabs more than two weeks ago, thatâs much safer.â
The married father-of-three added that it was down to âpersonal responsibilityâ.
âWe all know now the sorts of things that are riskier⦠I think personal responsibility is an important mantra here because people have been so responsible through the crisis and theyâve really listened and followed the guidance and instructions that the Prime Minister set out, and thatâs the approach we should take together,â he said.
We now know that his comments came after CCTV caught him in an apparent embrace with his aide Gina Coladangelo on May 6.
At that time, guidance said people should continue to keep their distance from anyone not in their household or support bubble. He has now said he is âvery sorryâ for breaching social distancing guidelines and said that he âlet people downâ.
In May 2020, Professor Neil Ferguson resigned from his Government position for breaking rules after his relationship with a married woman came to light.
Hancock said he had been left speechless after learning of Fergusonâs âextraordinaryâ breach of the rules and that police should consider whether to take further action. He said Ferguson âtook the right decision to resignâ.
Asked about police involvement, he told Sky News: âThey will take their decisions independently from ministers, thatâs quite right, itâs always been like thatâ¦
âSo I give them their space to make that decision, but I think he took the right decision to resign.â
Hancock, though, has hinted that he has no intention of resigning, saying he remains âfocused on working to get the country out of this pandemicâ.
Weâre not saying anything.
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