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Matt Hancock resigns as UK Health Secretary after kissing aide scandal
Matt Hancock has resigned as UK Health Secretary and walked out on his wife after video footage emerged of him kissing an aide in his ministerial office in a breach of coronavirus restrictions.
He wrote a letter of resignation to Boris Johnson where he said the Government 'owe it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down'.
Now, it has come to light that the Health Secretary told his wife, Martha, that he would be leaving her on Thursday night - immediately after discovering that his affair with Gina Coladangelo was about to be laid bare.
Images and video showed Mr Hancock in an embrace with aide Ms Coladangelo last month, and the Health Secretary was facing increasing pressure to quit over the breaking of social-distancing rules.
Mr Hancock added: 'The last thing I would want is for my private life to distract attention from the single-minded focus that is leading us out of this crisis.
'I want to reiterate my apology for breaking the guidance, and apologise to my family and loved ones for putting them through this. I also need (to) be with my children at this time.'
The Prime Minister said he was 'sorry' to receive Mr Hancock's resignation as Health Secretary.
He said Mr Hancock 'should leave office very proud of what you have achieved - not just in tackling the pandemic, but even before Covid-19 struck us'.
Boris Johnson added: 'I am grateful for your support and believe that your contribution to public service is far from over.'
Ms Coladangelo is also reportedly leaving her position on the board of the Department of Health.
Mr Johnson had refused to sack Mr Hancock, with his spokesman saying the PM considered the matter closed after receiving the West Suffolk MP's apology on Friday.
But on Saturday Conservative MPs began to break ranks to call for Mr Hancock to go.
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