Matt Hancock has resigned as Health Secretary after admitting to breaking coronavirus rules

His resignation comes after leaked CCTV showed him kissing an aide in his departmental office.

In a letter to Boris Johnson Hancock said the Government “owe it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down”.

In his letter of resignation, Matt Hancock 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 apologise to my family and loved ones for putting them through this. I also need (to) be with my children at this time.”

The Health Secretary was facing increasing pressure to quit over the breaking of social-distancing rules after CCTV footage leaked showing him kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo last month.

In response, the Prime Minister wrote: “You should leave office very proud of what you have achieved – not just in tackling the pandemic, but even before Covid-19 struck us.”

Mr Johnson had refused to sack Mr Hancock, with his spokesman saying the PM considered the matter closed after receiving the West Suffolk MP’s apology on Friday.

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