British Health Secretary Matt Hancock submitted his resignation on Saturday after the emergence of images and videos showing him in violating COVID-19 protocols during an affair with a close aide. In a letter to Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson, Hancock apologised for “breaking the guidance.” Consequently Hancock has been replaced by former Finance Minister Sajid Javid.
Honoured to have been asked to serve as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care at this critical time.
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) June 26, 2021
I look forward to contributing to our fight against the pandemic, and serving my country from the Cabinet once again.
As per news reports, Hancock found himself at the centre of the controversy after a British newspaper The Sun published images, taken from the CCTV footage, of the married minister embracing a woman who he had appointed to a taxpayer-funded role to scrutinise the performance of his department. The incident occurred amid the United Kingdom’s (UK) strict COVID-19 guidelines, banning individuals from meeting and hugging people from outside of their households.
In his letter to the British PM, Hancock said, “We owe it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic, to be honest when we have let them down as I have done by breaching the guidance.” He also applauded the British National Health Service, its staff, and officials in the Department of Health. “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,” he added.
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) June 26, 2021
Johnson expressed his discontent with Hancock’s decision and applauded his role in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, saying: “I am grateful for your support and believe that your contribution to public service is far from over.”
In addition, several members of the Conservative Party have come out in support of Hancock. Speaking to the Times Radio, the UK’s Northern Ireland Minister, Brandon Lewis, said the government would investigate whether the camera placed in Hancock’s office was done “appropriately” and “how that video got out to the public domain.”
Meanwhile, leaders of the Labour Party criticised Boris Johnson’s role in handling the issue. Party leader Keir Starmer said, “The prime minister should have sacked him. Yet again, Boris Johnson was too slow, too weak and didn’t show the needed leadership. When people who made huge sacrifices during this pandemic see this, what they see is one rule for them and another rule for those close to the government.”
Moreover, according to The Guardian, in a double blow to Hancock, he also faced scrutiny for bypassing crucial disclosure rules and using private emails while performing public duties. The communications showed that Hancock, in his official capacity, referred a personal acquaintance wanting an NHS contract.
Hancock’s controversy also comes amid a barrage of scandals tainting the Johnson government. On Sunday, the BBC reported that a classified document of the Defence Ministry was found at a bus stop in Kent. The papers had information on Russia’s reaction to a British ship’s “innocent passage” in Ukrainian waters and details about British troops’ continued presence following the withdrawal from Afghanistan. In addition, Johnson faced criticism after news reports in April quoted him saying that he would rather let “bodies pile high in their thousands” than call for a third lockdown. The British PM has also been criticised for the extravagant refurbishment of his Downing Street flat, which his former chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, alleged was secretly being paid for by Johnson’s donors.
Therefore, the recent incident with Hancock is likely to act as the latest challenge to the ruling government.