The health secretary’s appointment of a ‘close personal friend’ as an aide would have gone through an “incredibly rigorous” process, a minister has claimed.
Questions about Matt Hancock’s appointment of former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo have surfaced after pictures in The Sun newspaper appeared to show the health secretary, who is married, kissing the aide in his office.
According to the newspaper, the images, which appear to be from CCTV footage, were taken on 6 May from the Department of Health and Social Care building.
The Sunday Times reported in November that Mr Hancock had failed to declare he had appointed Ms Coladangelo as an unpaid adviser on a six-month contract last March and later gave her a role on the board of the Department of Health.
Ms Coladangelo, who is listed on the department’s website as a non-executive director, is the marketing and communications director at British retailer Oliver Bonas, which was founded by her husband Oliver Tress.
Her LinkedIn profile says she has been working as a non-executive director at the Department of Health since September 2020 and was at Oxford University at the same time as the health secretary.
Mr Hancock has been married to his wife Martha for 15 years and they have three children together.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he would not comment on something that is an “entirely personal” matter.
But he added: “In terms of rules, anyone who’s been appointed has to go through an incredibly rigorous process in government. Whatever the rules are, the rules will have to be followed.”
Pressed again on whether the rules had been followed with regards to the appointment, Mr Shapps replied: “I think it’s a bit of a red herring in this case. I think it’s really a personal story, so I don’t intend to comment on somebody’s personal life.”
He added that the health secretary “has been working very hard rolling out this vaccine programme”.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “This appointment was made in the usual way and followed correct procedure.”
Peter Riddell, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, said last year that there were “growing concerns” about the lack of regulation over the appointment of non-executive board members to government departments.
He said that “the original idea of bringing in people with business and similar experience from outside Whitehall has been partly replaced by the appointment of political allies of ministers, in some cases without competition, and without any form of regulatory oversight”.
The photo has also raised questions about whether Mr Hancock broke the government’s lockdown laws.
At the time the picture was reportedly taken on 6 May, hugging anyone outside your household or bubble was not allowed.
The government’s roadmap out of COVID restrictions said people should keep maintaining their distance from anyone not in their household or support bubble until 17 May.
2019!!!
Human rights lawyer Adam Wagner, who has analysed COVID restrictions closely over the course of the pandemic, said on social media “there is an important question of whether the health secretary broke his own lockdown laws”.
“Gatherings of 2 or more indoors were illegal except for permitted purposes… if they were at work, they might argue this fell within the work exception but I think – especially for health secretary – that’s not a good argument”.
“For the rest of the population, indoor relationships with someone you don’t live with were (bizarrely) illegal until 17 May 2021.”
Speaking to Sky News in May last year after it was revealed that Professor Neil Ferguson, who was then one of the government’s top scientific advisers, had broken lockdown rules, Mr Hancock said he was “speechless”.
Asked if he thought Prof Ferguson should have been prosecuted, the health secretary said: “It’s a matter for the police, as a government minister I’m not allowed to get involved in the operational decisions of police matters.
“But I think the social distancing rules are very important and people should follow them.”
Labour said the government had questions to answer, with a spokesperson saying: “Ministers, like everyone, are entitled to a private life.
“However, when taxpayers’ money is involved or jobs are being offered to close friends who are in a personal relationship with a minister, then that needs to be looked into.
“The government needs to be open and transparent about whether there are any conflicts of interests or rules that have been broken.”
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said “the reason Matt Hancock should resign is that he is a terrible health secretary, not because of his private life”.
He added on Twitter: “From the PPE scandal, the crisis in our care service and the unbelievably poor test and trace system, he has utterly failed.”
The governement have now changed the advice for social distancing and will be spending yet more millions of our money rolling it out (please excuse the pun).
And still NO resignation or sacking.
Penny Lane
Update:
Matt Hancock admits breaking social distancing after CCTV leak shows office kiss with aide Gina Cola
Matt Hancock has admitted breaking social distancing guidelines after pictures emerged of him kissing an aide.
“I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances,” the health secretary said.
“I have let people down and am very sorry.
“I remain focused on working to get the country out of this pandemic, and would be grateful for privacy for my family on this personal matter.”
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called on Boris Johnson to sack the health secretary over his appointment of a close personal friend as an aide.
Questions about Mr Hancock hiring former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo surfaced after pictures in The Sun newspaper showed Mr Hancock, who is married, kissing the aide in his office.
Downing Street says Boris Johnson accepts Matt Hancock’s apology for breaking social distancing rules and “considers the matter closed”
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