Matt Hancock kiss: Covid families warn it could undermine efforts against virus

Matt Hancock’s breach of social distancing guidance when he kissed an aide could damage government messaging on fighting the virus, families of Covid victims have warned.

The health secretary has apologised after pictures emerged of him with Gina Coladangelo, reportedly taken on 6 May.

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group said failing to sack Mr Hancock could lead to a “Cummings effect” and people breaking the rules.

The PM considers the matter closed.

A Downing Street spokesman said Boris Johnson accepted Mr Hancock’s apology, adding the prime minister had full confidence in the health secretary.

However, some Conservative MPs have expressed anger over the revelations and one former minister said they did not expect the health secretary to survive the scandal, the BBC’s political correspondent Jonathan Blake said.

‘Why would anyone listen?’
The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group has written to Mr Johnson urging him to sack Mr Hancock if he does not resign, and has questioned whether the health secretary can now hold any moral authority in relation to Covid.

Rivka Gottlieb, from the campaign group, told BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight: “If he were to announce another lockdown or further regulations why would anybody listen to someone who doesn’t follow the rules themselves? It’s a bit like the Cummings effect.”

Agencies