Public anger remains in UK after health chief quits

LONDON: Public anger remained in the UK as British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who had been steering the country's battle against COVID-19, resigned for breaking a social distancing rule he had imposed on England.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted promptly on Saturday evening to appoint former Chancellor Sajid Javid as Hancock's successor, reports Xinhua news agency.

Hancock's key job in Johnson's top team of ministers was thrown into doubt after The Sun newspaper on June 25 published photographs of the Health Secretary kissing Gina Coladangelo, one of his key aides, at the Department of Health's London HQ reportedly during office hours in May.

According to the Guardian newspaper, the incident took place on May 6 when the public were still being advised not to hug people outside their household.

But what doomed Hancock's cabinet career was outrage from politicians and the public that the incident broke a legally-enforceable social distancing rule he had imposed across the country to contain the pandemic.

During the pandemic, Hancock regularly appeared on Downing Street virtual briefings, detailing restrictions that must be followed in the fight against the virus. (IANS)

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