UK health secretary resigns after violating COVID rules by kissing assistant By Reuters
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: British Health Secretary Matt Hancock attends a press briefing on Downing Street, London, UK on February 1, 2021. Chris J Ratcliffe / Pool via REUTERS
2/5
It’s Kate Holton
LONDON (Reuters) – British Health Minister Matt Hancock has left on Saturday after being caught breaking COVID-19 rules by kissing and hugging an aide in his office, angering colleagues and the public. closed.
The 42-year-old wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson of resignation after The Sun newspaper published photos of the married minister embracing a woman he had nominated for a taxpayer-funded role to examine the benefits of his department.
Hancock has been at the center of the government’s fight against the pandemic, appearing regularly on television and radio to tell people to follow strict rules to contain the virus.
“We owe it to the people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we let it go like I did violating the guide,” he said in the letter.
Johnson said in response that he was sorry to receive it.
“You should be immensely proud of your service,” he wrote. “I am pleased with your support and believe that your contribution to the public service is far from over.”
The Sun showed Hancock kissing the helper in his office last month, at a time when it was against the rules for people to have intimate contact with a person outside their home.
Fusion Media or anyone involved in Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage due to reliance on the information including data, quotes, graphs and buy / sell signals contained on this website. Please be fully informed about the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the most risky forms of investment possible.
