Health Secretary Hancock quits after ignoring social distance guidelines

Matt Hancock has resigned as Health Secretary in British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government after he was caught kissing a close aide in his office, in breach of the government's pandemic social distancing guidelines.

His resignation came after embarrassing images and video emerged, showing Hancock in a clinch with aide Gina Coladangelo. The pictures were dated May 6, when the general public were still being advised to stay socially distanced from people outside their household.

In a letter to the prime minister, 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 said: "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 apologize to my family and loved ones for putting them through this.

"I also need to be with my children at this time," he added. "It has been the honor of my life to serve in your Cabinet as Secretary of State and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved."

Johnson said: "You should leave office very proud of what you have achieved — not just in tackling the pandemic, but even before COVID-19 struck us."

Hancock had been Secretary of State for Health and Social Care since 2018.