Matt Hancock resigns and following matters

[LOL The Irony]

Following on from his failings, the WhatsApp messages and alleged affair, do you think Hancock should resign or get sacked?

 

[Mojo]

I notice Mr Hancock was asking for privacy for his family. Where was the privacy for our families after our neighbours were encouraged to snitch on us, or after the police were encouraged to ask who was coming into our houses?

 

[AlterEgo]

Who cares? I'm just impressed of the quality of woman he managed to attract. There's hope for us all!

(seriously though he should go, tbh)

 

[gordonthemoron]

going on my past behaviour, I'm in no position to cast the first stone. Just take the piss out of him

 

[LOL The Irony]

Where was the privacy for our families after our neighbours were encouraged to snitch on us, or after the police were encouraged to ask who was coming into our houses?

We don't deserve it, apparently.

 

[NorthOxonian]

He should be sacked. This is just the latest in a series of reasons.

But in reality, he'll cling on.

 

[notlob.divad]

He should be told to offer his resignation or be sacked. He won't, because his boss is known to have done just as much and got away with it, and they both know it. The hypocrisy of sacking him or having him resign would be worse for Johnson than the damage of brazening it out until the next dead cat comes along.

As for why it has come out today, clearly the comments made by the Queen caught on camera were a little too empathetic towards the chosen scapegoat, for one of his fellow cabinet members and News International, so they had to put that right straight away. (No marks for guessing whcih cabinet member, just look at past performance)

 

[Darandio]

He should be sacked. This is just the latest in a series of reasons.

But in reality, he'll cling on.

His boss has already backed him, bloke is made of teflon.

 

[PHILIPE]

His boss has already backed him, bloke is made of teflon.

And the "boss" has declared the matter now closed.

 

[Trackman]

His boss has already backed him, bloke is made of teflon.

Sack Boris whilst we are at it.
If I'd had done it I would be sacked on the spot (and locked out of home).
The whole thing is a joke.
And it's not just a kiss, he has his hand on her behind.
The whole thing is sickening and he is the Health Secretary.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Who cares? I'm just impressed of the quality of woman he managed to attract. There's hope for us all!

(seriously though he should go, tbh)

Not really that hard when you’re the one paying her salary.

 

[Ianno87]

And the "boss" has declared the matter now closed.

I might try that out in day to day life.

In a supermarket:
"That'll be 43 pounds and 52 pence please".
"I consider the matter of my shopping now closed".

 

[Peter Mugridge]

He should, morally, resign.

In the absence of a resignation, he should, morally, be sacked.

However, it's obvious already that neither of these things will happen.

 

[eastdyke]

Not really that hard when you’re the one paying her salary.

I suspect that she is not in need of any 'salary'. Look at who she is 'married' to. And she was previously a director at lobbying firm Luther Pendragon. Corruption at its finest.

Remember Hancock is a 'genius' and that makes an awful lot of fools across this country

 

[Typhoon]

His boss has already backed him, bloke is made of teflon.

His boss knows that if he sacks Hancock, the Arcuri affair may resurface. Patel 'matter closed', Jenrick 'matter closed', Cummings 'matter closed'. There are probably others.

He needs to be challenged about his statements about Professor Ferguson. Not that much difference in the situation.

“I think the social distancing rules are very important and people should follow them.

“I think that he took the right decision to resign."

I notice Mr Hancock was asking for privacy for his family. Where was the privacy for our families after our neighbours were encouraged to snitch on us, or after the police were encouraged to ask who was coming into our houses?

Tough for his wife and kids, they have done nothing wrong.


Quote from: https://nz.news.yahoo.com/matt-hancock-adviser-affair-broke-rules-should-resign-114027190.html

 

[colchesterken]

I think we have moved on from the days of an affair meaning the sack
Except where it effects the job they are doing ie Profumo
What I do think is the breach of his own instructions should do it for him
after all he did not need to test his eyesight at Barnard Castle,
Boris may not let him go as they may need a scapegoat

 

[C J Snarzell]

I have always predicted Matt Hancock would step down anyway once all the Covid fiasco is under control. Dom Cummings 'whistleblowing' from the end of May, did nothing for Hancock's credibility but he remained in post in light of the allegations made that he was 'inept'. I don't think he is a bad bloke at the end of the day - he has certainly done a very demanding thankless job in the last 16 months that would push most people to their limits. If he has been having it over the side - does it matter? Many 'red blooded' blokes have done the same and the lady in question doesn't exactly look like Ann Widdecombe!!!

CJ

 

[Butts]

Sack Boris whilst we are at it.
If I'd had done it I would be sacked on the spot (and locked out of home).
The whole thing is a joke.
And it's not just a kiss, he has his hand on her behind.
The whole thing is sickening and he is the Health Secretary.

Outrageous

My word are we living in the Victorian era ?

At least it was a "PC Grope" - punching well above his weight there.

 

[kermit]

The affair is neither here nor there (though you will be entitled to draw your own conclusions about character). But the failure to keep public money separate from private "interest", and the breach of Covid rules applicable at the time make his position untenable.

 

[Senex]

Are members of the political class effctively now untouchable (as long as they are connected with the Johnson government)?

 

[duncanp]

The affair is neither here nor there (though you will be entitled to draw your own conclusions about character). But the failure to keep public money separate from private "interest", and the breach of Covid rules applicable at the time make his position untenable.

I don't think I will bother wearing a mask on public transport any more.

I have had it up to here with all the COVID rules and restrictions, but have complied with them for the most part for the general good.

But if Matt Hancock can break the social distancing rules and get away with it, why should I bother?

Hopefully a side effect of all this is that Boris goes ahead with Step 4 on 19th July, just to keep everyone happy.

 

[DanNCL]

The fact that he's had an affair isn't in itself the main issue, as morally wrong as it is. The two main issues with it are who he's had the affair with - Gina Coladangelo was hired with public funds by Matt Hancock himself as a non executive director of the Department for Health, and that's he's completely disregarded the same rules that he's repeatedly gone on national TV telling everyone else to follow in order to have said affair.

Matt Hancock needs to consider his position, Boris Johnson needs to reconsider his own decision not to sack Matt Hancock, and if they have any sense Labour should be trying to find any method they can to force a no confidence vote in Matt Hancock in the House of Commons - the Lib Dems and the SNP will happily support a no confidence vote against Hancock and there are likely enough backbench Conservatives that would vote against Hancock that a no confidence vote if held would be successful in ousting him.

 

[Butts]

Are members of the political class effctively now untouchable (as long as they are connected with the Johnson government)?

Seemingly that mantra does not extend to political aides.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2021 ==

I don't think I will bother wearing a mask on public transport any more.

I have had it up to here with all the COVID rules and restrictions, but have complied with them for the most part for the general good.

But if Matt Hancock can break the social distancing rules and get away with it, why should I bother?

Hopefully a side effect of all this is that Boris goes ahead with Step 4 on 19th July, just to keep everyone happy.

All the above is what most people on here have been calling for so if you feel it's sufficient justification he has done you a favour.

 

[LOL The Irony]

My main problem with Hancock has been expressed by many here. It's not only the affair in office, but the fact it was with an aide, the fact he broke the rules HE set and his general incompetence regarding covid. He really needs to go so this government can gain back a shred of decency. Boris really needs to just sack him and bring in a direct replacement until the next reshuffle.

 

[duncanp]

My main problem with Hancock has been expressed by many here. It's not only the affair in office, but the fact it was with an aide, the fact he broke the rules HE set and his general incompetence regarding covid. He really needs to go so this government can gain back a shred of decency. Boris really needs to just sack him and bring in a direct replacement until the next reshuffle.

The Matt Cartoon in The Telegraph tomorrow is quite amusing.

 

[C J Snarzell]

Matt Hancock isn't the only cabinet member to break or flex the 'rules'. I seem to remember Michael Gove pulled a fast one over contact with his daughter very early on in the pandemic.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak 'bolted' from London to his country home in North Yorkshire on the eve of the third lockdown at New Year. Although he didn't actually breach any restrictions, his actions were critised because most Londoners were 'stopped' from leaving the Capital for the same reasons.

Then there is Margaret Ferrier from Bonny Scotland - a blatant breach with a 'I couldn't care less attitude'. Does anyone know what's happened with her court case as its not been reported on for months?

CJ

 

[Gloster]

Then there is Margaret Ferrier from Bonny Scotland - a blatant breach with a 'I couldn't care less attitude'. Does anyone know what's happened with her court case as its not been reported on for months?

CJ

According to the BBC she ‘...was bailed, pending further examination’ on 3 February. Whether that simply means she is awaiting trial or whether that has a specific meaning in the Scottish legal system, I do not know.

 

[LUYMun]

Boris Johnson has said and done worse things than Hancock so it wouldn't be surprising that nothing will come out of it. If anything, the next few days will be similar to the Dominic Cummings incident in which BoJo will be sympathetic.

I'm also wondering if Hancock's constituency (West Suffolk) are hoping for a by-election...

 

[AndrewE]

Boris Johnson has said and done worse things than Hancock so it wouldn't be surprising that nothing will come out of it. If anything, the next few days will be similar to the Dominic Cummings incident in which BoJo will be sympathetic.

I'm also wondering if Hancock's constituency (West Suffolk) are hoping for a by-election...

He's a constituency MP, so unless there is a big massive move to unseat him he will just keep on attending Parliament. The locals have to do a lot more than hope to get a by-election! Whether he resigns or keeps his cabinet post is another matter...

 

[birchesgreen]

He won't resign, they never do now. They'll still get their 40% support no matter what.