Off the hook? Met Police say they will NOT investigate Matt Hancock over his self-confessed Covid rule breach in clinch with married aide
The Metropolitan Police has said it will not investigate Health Secretary Matt Hancock over his self-confessed breach of Covid rules after CCTV exposed exposed him kissing a married aide.
The Health Secretary, 42, was caught on camera in a passionate clinch with his hand rubbing the back and bottom of millionaire lobbyist Gina Coladangelo, 43, who was brought in as a taxpayer-funded advisor in March last year.
On whether Mr Hancock could be investigated over the incident, the force said: 'Where the Met receives allegations of breaches of the Health Protection Regulations 2020, we will focus on those that are live, or where police action can enable a change to behaviour that is posing a current public health risk.
'As a matter of course the MPS is not investigating Covid related issues retrospectively.'
The statement from the force added that the Met was 'aware of the distribution of images alleged to have been obtained within an official Government premises'.
It added: 'No criminal investigation has been launched. At this time this remains a matter for the relevant Government department.'
The Metropolitan Police has said it will not investigate Health Secretary Matt Hancock over his self-confessed breach of Covid rules after CCTV exposed exposed him kissing a married aide
The incident is alleged to have taken place in the corridor outside his office at the Department for Health's headquarters in London at around 3pm on May 6 this year - the day of the UK local elections and a week after his first coronavirus jab.
The kiss was also 13 days before the Government relaxed safety regulations including giving permission to hug.
The Met's statement came after it was announced that Hancock is being investigated by the Commons sleaze watchdog over his links to a family firm that has won NHS contracts.
The Health Secretary declared in April this year that he owns more than 15 per cent of shares in Topwood Ltd, run by his sister Emily Gilruth and her husband.
Matt Hancock is being investigated by the Commons sleaze watchdog over his links to a family firm that has won NHS contracts
The Health Secretary declared in April this year that he owns more than 15 per cent of shares in Topwood Ltd, run by his sister Emily Gilruth and her husband
But the document shredding company has been allowed to provide services to the NHS since 2019 and has won a contract in Wales.
Last month Mr Hancock was found to have broken the ministerial code by not declaring his interest two years ago when Wrexham-based Topwood was first awarded a framework contract by NHS Shared Business Services.
He was said to have committed a 'minor breach' of the rules by ministerial ethics adviser Lord Geidt, on the grounds that he had not known about the NHS deal.
However Mr Hancock was also referred to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone.
And her list of current investigations was updated this week to include Mr Hancock's case.
Her website stated that the 'matter under investigation' was 'Registration of interest under Category 7 of the Guide to the Rules '.
The relevant part of the MPs' code of conduct was the paragraph that states: 'Members shall fulfil conscientiously the requirements of the House in respect of the registration of interests in the Register of Members' Financial Interests.'
Sanctions for breaches of the code range from having to make an apology to being suspended from the Commons for a number of weeks in the msst serious cases.
Last night Labour's Deputy Leader Angela Rayner told the Mail: 'Matt Hancock is taking the public for fools by claiming that he didn't even know what his sister's company – which he owns a 20 per cent stake of – does.
Last night Labour's Deputy Leader Angela Rayner told the Mail: 'Matt Hancock is taking the public for fools by claiming that he didn't even know what his sister's company – which he owns a 20 per cent stake of – does'
'It is right that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards investigates this flagrant and glaring breach of the rules.
'The Health Secretary is treating the rules that uphold standards and integrity in our democracy with complete contempt.'
It is the latest blow to the reputation of Mr Hancock, who was called 'poor man' by the Queen in her recent meeting with Boris Johnson.
Leaked messages revealed last week that the Prime Minister called him 'hopeless' at the height of the pandemic last year.
Former No 10 aide Dominic Cummings has said the Health Secretary should have been fired for 'at least 15 to 20 things' over his handling of the Covid crisis.
Last night sources close to the Health Secretary said: 'His team will work with the commissioner on this technical issue - all processes have been followed properly and diligently.'
The document shredding company has been allowed to provide services to the NHS since 2019 and has won a contract in Wales (file image)
Bereaved families expressed their disgust at Hancock after the CCTV image was released to the press.
'Up and down the country, bereaved families have been doing everything they can to follow the rules and prevent further loss of life. But it's clear Matt Hancock thought that "hands, face, space" was a rule for everyone else,' Hannah Brady of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said on Friday.
'For bereaved families to know that the man responsible for public health in this country, was ignoring the rules whilst we were unable to hug friends and family at our loved ones funerals, is heartbreaking.'
'For Boris Johnson to keep him in his position is a slap in the face to bereaved families. He himself described Hancock as "f****** hopeless" over a year ago, even before he went on to disastrously handle PPE, care homes, Test and Trace and ultimately oversee the deaths of 150,000 people,' ' Ms Brady added.
'Hancock's has treated bereaved families with contempt. He's got to go and he should have gone a long time ago.'