Markus Andrews

A minute-long CCTV footage of Matt Hancock embracing his alleged married lover has been released.The video taken in May at the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) shows the health secretary opening a door and checking to see if anybody is around before motioning to Gina Coladangelo.The 43-year-old aide walks towards Mr Hancock before they become entwined together in a passionate embrace in the corridors of power at Whitehall.The video, released on Friday night by The Sun, comes as Mr Hancock is under increasing pressure to resign.Mr Hancock said he was “very sorry” for letting people down and breaching social distancing guidelines, but made clear in his statement he would not resign, and received the backing of Boris Johnson.Despite the backing of the prime minister, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called for him to go, as have the Covid-19 Bereaved Families For Justice group, which represents those who have lost loved ones to the pandemic.And in a further blow to Mr Hancock, Conservative Duncan Baker has openly called for Mr Hancock to go today.He told his local newspaper, the Eastern Daily Press: “In my view people in high public office and great positions of responsibility should act with the appropriate morals and ethics that come with that role.“Matt Hancock, on a number of measures, has fallen short of that. As an MP who is a devoted family man, married for 12 years with a wonderful wife and children, standards and integrity matter to me.“I will not in any shape condone this behaviour and I have in the strongest possible terms told the government what I think.” More

A member of the 2019 intake of Conservative MPs has become the first from the party to publicly suggest Matt Hancock should resign after he admitted breaking Covid rules.Duncan Baker, the MP for North Norfolk, told the Eastern Daily Press that people in public office with positions of responsibility “should act with the appropriate moral and ethics that come with that role”.“Matt Hancock, on a number of measures has fallen short of that,” he said.“As an MP who is a devoted family man, married for twelve years with a wonderful wife and children, standards and integrity matter to me. I will not in any shape condone this behaviour, and I have in the strongest possible terms told the government what I think.”Mr Baker told the newspaper the health secretary should resign and said he had made his views known to Boris Johnson’s administration.It comes after the prime minister attempted to save his beleaguered cabinet minister — declaring the matter “closed” on Friday — but questions have continued to mount over Mr Hancock’s conduct in office, after he was filmed embracing in his Whitehall office with a longtime friend he placed on the government payroll.The Daily Telegraph also reported Conservative MPs were telling the prime minister to “pull the plug” on the health secretary, but, until now, have resisted from making their views publicly known.Speaking on GB News on Saturday, Esther McVey, a former Tory cabinet minister also added to the intensifying pressure on Mr Hancock, saying: “If it had been me, I would have resigned myself.”She added: “I’m hoping that Matt Hancock is thinking the same thing that he doesn’t have to have it pushed upon him it will be viewed far more admirably if he comes forward reassessing it and that’s what I’d to see.”A video of Mr Hancock in an embrace with Gina Coladangelo was published on Friday night, after stills from the CCTV clip earlier in the day prompted Labour to deem his position “hopelessly untenable”.Defending Mr Hancock, cabinet colleague Robert Jenrick told the BBC on Friday evening that it was “right” the health secretary had issued an apology.“There’s a task to be done. Matt is on the job doing that, and I think we should allow him to get on with the job.”“The rules have been hard,” he added. “It is everybody’s duty to follow the rules, but equally I’ve not been somebody who has criticised and condemned people when they’ve made mistakes.”In a statement, 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.” More

A former aide to Boris Johnson has suggested Matt Hancock should resign for undermining his own Covid rules, as the health secretary faces intensifying calls from opposition parties to step down from government.Tim Montgomerie, who worked in No 10 during the first months of Mr Johnson’s premiership, suggested it was “not good at all” to have the cabinet minister remain in office “when other people have fallen on their swords very quickly and very honourably”.While defending the Mr Hancock’s previous record at the Department of Health, the founder of the Conservative Home website said: “When you undermine your own rules you have to show to the public that you understand the transgression you’ve made and you resign”.It comes after Mr Johnson attempted to save the health secretary — declaring the matter “closed” — but questions continue to mount over Mr Hancock’s conduct in office, after he was caught embracing in his departmental office with a longtime friend he had put on the government payroll.A cabinet source also told the Daily Telegraph that while No 10 was standing by Mr Hancock after his apology on Friday morning, “it could unravel pretty quickly”. A snap survey for Savanta ComRes found that a clear majority (58 per cent) believed the health secretary should resign.Mr Hancock — a key government figure during the pandemic whose name appears on the Covid regulations that have governed people’s lives since March 2020 — acknowledged his embrace with Gina Coladangelo had broken social distancing rules and said he was “very sorry”.A video of Mr Hancock’s embrace with Ms Coladangelo — a non-executive director at the Department of Health since September 2020 — was published on Friday evening by The Sun newspaper, prompting Labour to deem his position “hopelessly untenable”.Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Montgomerie suggested Mr Hancock may stay in his position for a “little longer” due to the public support offered by Downing Street by Friday, as the prime minister’s official spokesperson stonewalled journalists’ questions over the affair.“Whether he should have that support is a whole other matter,” he said. “So many people have made sacrifices during this Covid period and Matt Hancock has been one of the principled people asking the country to make those sacrifices — he helped draw up the rules.“He’s been a good secretary of state in my opinion, he’s worked incredibly hard to fight Covid, but when you undermine your own rules you have to show to the public that you understand the transgression you’ve made and you resign.“You could come back in 12-18 months, but if the public don’t see some act of contrition, some sense that when rules are broken there are consequences then confidence in the government, the Covid rules, and the Conservative Party is diminished.”Quizzed on whether his apology was sufficient, he replied: “I don’t think so. I think in some of the interviews that have been played out over the last 24 hours with Matt Hancock, he didn’t think it was good enough for Neil Ferguson, the scientific adviser when he was involved in a similar public controversy.”“For the secretary of state for health to continue in office when other people have fallen on their swords very quickly and very honourably, I think is not good at all.”Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants, also suggested that there was a significant issue around “conflict of interest” over his close relationship with Ms Coladangelo.“He appointed her as an adviser, he then was involved in appointing her as a paid non-executive director of the department and we don’t know if they were in a relationship at that point in time,” he said.“It’s really critical that the public can trust the government and the people who are appointed a paid by taxpayers that they are appointed on merit and not because of their close relationship with ministers.”He added: “I think there a significant issues both for Gina Coladangelo in her role as a non-executive director and for the secretary of state and whether they have breached the respective codes. It says no conflict should arise, or reasonably should be perceived to arise, I don’t think anyone can say that’s the case here.”Defending the beleaguered cabinet minister, however, Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, told the BBC it was “right” for Mr Hancock to issue an apology, but added: “There’s a task to be done. Matt is on the job doing that, and I think we should allow him to get on with the job.”“The rules have been hard,” he added. “It is everybody’s duty to follow the rules, but equally I’ve not been somebody who has criticised and condemned people when they’ve made mistakes.” More

Schools have decided not to sing the anthem for One Britain One Nation Day, despite the government encouraging them to celebrate the event.Headteachers told The Independent their pupils did not sing the song – which ends with chants of “strong Britain, great nation” – on Friday, due to Covid guidelines, logistical issues and because it “feels like propaganda”. The Department for Education encouraged schools to celebrate One Britain One Nation Day on 25 June, during which they said children could “learn about our shared values of tolerance, kindness, pride and respect”. But the government was criticised after the event’s patriotic anthem was shared widely on social media. Lyrics include “we are Britain and we have one dream, to unite all people in one great team” and references to Britain having “widened our island’s shores”. Headteachers told The Independent their schools skipped the song on Friday.One school leader in Liverpool said their school did not participate as they were not officially told about the event and they did not get enough warning to learn and sing the song in time.The headteacher, who wished to stay anonymous, also said schools were being advised not to sing unless it is distanced and outside. “And, frankly, it was awful,” they added. Matt Davies, a headteacher in North Yorkshire, said his school also did not sing the song on Friday, when One Britain One Nation Day took place.“Firstly, our current risk assessment dictates that whole school or whole class signing is not permitted due to the increased risk of potential transmission,” he told The Independent. “Secondly, I couldn’t agree that the wording of the song was impartial. It certainly comes across as potentially divisive which is not consistent with our school values and ethos.”Hildi Mitchell, the head of Downs Infant School in Brighton, told The Independent they did not participate in the song due to logistics, saying they had other things going on like school trips, and any performance would take several weeks for her pupils to master. Speaking about another reason why they chose not to sing the song, she said: “I don’t think the government have demonstrated any of these values through their actions so this feels like propaganda, my parents have emailed me to say they agree and don’t want their children singing it.” Ollie Williams, a deputy headteacher in southeast England, said their primary school also did not participate, telling The Independent: “It wasn’t mandatory and we have a full rich curriculum that the children are accessing until the end of term.”Amid backlash over the song, the founder of One Britain One Nation, former policeman Kash Singh, told GB News it was seven- to 10-year-old children who wrote the song.“They wrote that song because they wanted to bring unity, they want to celebrate pride, they want every child to feel part of this country,” he said. “And I don’t know how – and I still havent comprehended it – how it has had a negative reaction.”He added: “This is the children of our country, writing those words, wanting to celebrate our country, and bringing each other together. And they want to do that because they want to elimate hate. “One Britain One Nation is a group that says it wants “to create, a strong, fair, harmonious and a proud British Nation, celebrating patriotism and respect for all our people”.A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Our schools should promote fundamental British values including tolerance and respect. As such, we support One Britain One Nation’s broad aims to help children learn about equality, kindness and pride, and it is for schools to decide how they teach these important values.They added: “The department has not asked people to sing songs or endorsed any specific materials for One Britain One Nation day.” More

Jo Cox’s sister has been heckled and pursued on the campaign trail by a group consisting mainly of men, with party leader Keir Starmer condemning the abuse as “disgraceful”.Kim Leadbeater is standing as Labour’s by-election candidate for the Batley and Spen seat, which her sibling used to represent before she was killed.Next week’s election comes almost exactly five years after Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right terrorist as she made her way to meet constituents in Birstall, West Yorkshire.On Friday, a man shouted at Ms Leadbeater, asking her what her views were on LGBT+ education in schools – supposedly on behalf of Muslim parents – as well as her stance on the situation in Kashmir.In a video that appeared online, she asked him to lower his voice, before being followed by the group to a car.“This is where I live, this is my community. Don’t come here and shout at me in the street. The Muslim community of Batley and Spen deserve better than this,” Ms Leadbeater told the main heckler.Speaking to Byline Media later, the Labour candidate admitted it had been a “tough day”. In a statement, she said she was happy to participate in “robust political debate” but stressed that a line is crossed when it turns into “intimidatory behaviour”.She added: “Is it any wonder that people, particularly women, don’t want to enter politics when stuff like this happens?“For my family and friends to see this has caused a huge amount of distress. I’ve spent the last few years working on civility in public life and today shows why that work is more important than ever.”Politicians from across the aisle spoke out in support of her, with senior Labour MP Jess Phillips sending her “solidarity” and former Conservative chairwoman Baroness Warsi saying the incident was “awful”.After seeing the clip, Labour leader Keir Starmer tweeted: “The abuse Kim Leadbeater has faced is disgraceful.”“The best way people can counter it is by voting for Labour and Kim next Thursday,” he added.Mr Starmer also mentioned George Galloway – who is standing as a candidate in the Batley & Spen by-election – saying his “poisonous politics” were not welcome in this country.The comment comes after Ms Leadbeater said the controversial former MP was present during the confrontation. “George Galloway was at the other side of the street laughing, and I was extremely intimidated,” she said.In response, Mr Galloway said he had not been smirking and that the man abusing Ms Leadbeater had nothing to do with his campaign.Earlier this month, HOPE not hate, a group which campaigns against racism and fascism, warned that the far-right were seeking to raise their platform through the Batley and Spen by-election.This is due to a row which ignited after a teacher at the constituency’s Batley Grammar School showed his religious studies class cartoons of the prophet Muhammad on 22 March. When news of the incident spread, death threats were made against him and he and his family had to be relocated by the police for their safety.HOPE not hate has accused the far-right of trying “to further inflame tensions and exploit press interest on this issue”, adding that five candidates in the upcoming election hold “far-right or radical-right” views. The organisation describe Mr Galloway as a “divisive” candidate, who wants to “take advantage of local circumstances to further his own career – and ego”.Additional reporting from PA More

Matt Hancock accused of ‘having affair with close aide’ Gina ColadangeloBoris Johnson has said he continues to have “full confidence” in Matt Hancock after the health secretary was accused of having an affair with one of his close aides and breaking Covid rules.The PM’s spokesperson said Mr Johnson had accepted his minister’s apology and considered the matter “closed”.On Friday, Mr Hancock said he was “very sorry” for breaching social distancing guidelines but made clear he did not intend to resign over the matter.“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,” the health secretary said.The Sun claimed Mr Hancock was caught on camera kissing Gina Coladangelo, with the newspaper publishing security pictures reportedly taken on 6 May.The publication later released a minute-long video of the clinch, as well as a photograph of the pair reportedly enjoying a meal at a west London restaurant on 23 May.It was revealed in November that Ms Coladangelo had been given a role as a non-executive director at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), despite there being no public record of the appointment.Show latest update

1624660631‘Trust, confidence and credibility in health secretary now extinct’A senior figure in the NHS has said “trust, confidence and credibility” in Matt Hancock “are now extinct”, the BBC Newsnight’s policy editor Lewis Goodall has reported.Chiara Giordano25 June 2021 23:371624659777Minute-long video footage of Hancock and aide is revealedThe Sun has now released a minute-long clip of CCTV footage showing Matt Hancock kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo in his Whitehall office on 6 May.The video shows the health secretary appearing to check the coast is clear before closing his office door and standing with his back against it.Ms Coladangelo then walks towards him and the pair begin kissing.The newspaper tonight reported the colleagues were allegedly “all over each other” in the same office this week, while also releasing a photograph of the pair apparently enjoying a meal together at a restaurant on 23 May.Chiara Giordano25 June 2021 23:221624657549New image emerges of Hancock on dinner date with aideAnother photo has emerged tonight of Matt Hancock enjoying a dinner date with aide Gina Coladangelo weeks before their alleged affair was revealed.The pair were spotted drinking glasses of wine together at a restaurant in west London on 23 May, The Sun reports.The newspaper revealed the colleagues’ affair today after publishing a CCTV image of them kissing inside the health secretary’s Whitehall office.Chiara Giordano25 June 2021 22:451624654903Hancock could be in trouble if he has ‘Barnard Castle moment’A Cabinet source has told The Telegraph Matt Hancock could be in trouble if his kissing scandal turns into a “Barnard Castle moment”.The frontbencher told the newspaper things could “unravel pretty quickly”, adding: “If there is a Barnard Castle moment he is going to be under quite a lot of pressure.”Chiara Giordano25 June 2021 22:011624650792Metropolitan Police will not investigate Matt HancockThe Metropolitan Police will not investigate Matt Hancock over any alleged breaches of Covid regulations.A statement from the force said the Met was “aware of the distribution of images alleged to have been obtained within an official government premises”.It added: “No criminal investigation has been launched. At this time this remains a matter for the relevant government department.”On whether Mr Hancock could be investigated the force said: “Where the Met receives allegations of breaches of the Health Protection Regulations 2020, we will focus on those that are live, or where police action can enable a change to behaviour that is posing a current public health risk. “As a matter of course the MPS is not investigating Covid related issues retrospectively.”Chiara Giordano25 June 2021 20:531624649581Did Matt Hancock break the law? Experts point to grey areaThe health secretary may have broken coronavirus laws that were imposed in his own name, experts have said.Matt Hancock’s meeting with aide Gina Coladangelo would have to have been ‘reasonably necessary for work purposes’ to be legal.Our home affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden explains more below: More

Women would have the right to know how much their male work colleagues earn under a new Labour Party pledge on the economic recovery from the pandemic.The party will also call on ministers to give all workers the right to flexible working and to switch off from work at home, as well as end the “outdated and sexist assumption” that dad is “at work in the office and mum looking after the kids and doing the housework”.Boris Johnson has repeatedly said he wants the UK economy to ‘build back better’ after the threat from Covid-19 has passed. But at the G7 summit he appeared to broaden out that ambition, expressing a hope that a post-Covid world would be “more feminine”.However, Labour warns that inequalities between men and women have been “supercharged” by the pandemic. The call will be made by Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner and shadow secretary of state for Women and Equalities Marsha de Cordova as they launch their ‘Equal Recovery Pledge’, which the party says will promote gender equality at work. It will call on ministers to give women the right to know how much their male “counterparts” earn. Also included in the pledge will be a call to immediately reinstate the gender pay gap reporting scrapped by Tory ministers, and to introduce ethnicity pay gap reporting.Other demands include that it becomes illegal to make a pregnant woman or new mother redundant until six months after they return to work. Ministers would also have to publish the number of jobs created by government schemes such as Kickstart, broken down by sex, ethnicity and disability, and review the shared parental leave system.Party sources said the policies would be implemented by a Labour government.In a speech to Labour’s women’s conference on Saturday, Ms Rayner will say: “Strengthened rights at work, more control over our lives and a better work-life balance will not only be good for women workers, but a step forward in the fight for gender equality in the workplace too.“Flexible working is not just working from home, it’s about work fitting around our lives rather than dictating how we live.”She will add: “The right to flexible working and to disconnect at home will stop women losing out at work or even dropping out of the workforce altogether.”Ms de Cordova will say the inequalities “cannot be carried through into our post-pandemic world”.Recent research by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) found that nearly 9 in 10 – or 87 per cent – of workers want to work flexibly in the future. The ability to do so, however, is disproportionately enjoyed by those in higher paid occupations or whose jobs are in London. More

The health secretary may have broken coronavirus laws that were imposed in his own name, experts have said.Indoor meetings between people who did not live together or have a legal exemption were banned on the date that Matt Hancock was pictured kissing aide Gina Coladangelo.The informally dubbed “sex ban” was in place for much of the pandemic under different versions of the Health Protection Regulations, which were created as statutory instruments in Mr Hancock’s name.However, there were numerous exceptions to the law, including for gatherings that were “reasonably necessary for work purposes”.Because Mr Hancock and Ms Coladangelo both work at the Department of Health, and images published by The Sun showed them inside its London headquarters, experts say the incident sits in a legal “grey area”.Boris Johnson has supported the health secretary, who has apologised for breaking non-enforceable public health guidance.At the time, members of the public were told not to hug loved ones.In a statement, 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.“What was the law?At the time the images printed in The Sun were captured, England was under a set of laws officially named The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021.Unlike previous versions of the regulations, which have been used to enforce lockdowns and localised restrictions throughout the pandemic, it created three “steps” of restrictions.Step two came into force on 12 April 2021 and was still in effect when the images of Mr Hancock and Ms Coladangelo were taken on 6 May.Although restrictions were eased to allow non-essential retail, gyms, hairdressers, pub gardens and outdoor dining to open, the law was still tight on gatherings.It banned gatherings of two and more people indoors, unless they were subject to one of numerous exemptions.One of those was gatherings that were “reasonably necessary for work purposes”. More