Matt Hancock pictured loading up the last of his belongings from his marital home
EXCLUSIVE: Matt Hancock is sent packing! Former Health Secretary is seen loading up the last of his belongings in boxes and binbags from the marital home after leaving his wife following the exposure of his affair with aide Gina Coladangelo
- Hancock gathered an assortment of boxes, suitcases and clothes in bin bags from his former marital home
- Onlookers said the ex-health secretary was handed the belongings by his wife, Martha, on the doorstep
- Father-of-three Mr Hancock, 42, wore a baseball cap pulled down over his eyes – but not his wedding ring
- One neighbour said: ‘Matt was just dropping off the kids and picking up some things in a low-key way’
- A Nespresso coffee machine was among the possessions he loaded into a dark Audi parked outside
He’s trying to pick up the pieces of his life and political career. But first he’s had to pick up his possessions.
Matt Hancock gathered an assortment of boxes, suitcases and clothes in bin bags from his former marital home – as the family dog looked on forlornly.
Onlookers said the ex-health secretary, who quit after footage emerged of him kissing an aide in his office, was handed the belongings by his wife, Martha, on the doorstep of the London property on Thursday.
Father-of-three Mr Hancock, 42, wore a baseball cap pulled down over his eyes – but not his wedding ring – as he paid a brief visit to the property.
A Nespresso coffee machine was among the possessions he loaded into a dark Audi parked outside.
In the doghouse: Matt Hancock loads his car, watched by the family dachshund
Matt Hancock resigned from the Cabinet last month after footage was published of him kissing an aide in his departmental office, in breach of coronavirus rules
In the doghouse: Matt Hancock loads his car, watched by the family dachshund
He arrived at 4pm and was seen speaking to his wife through the door. She wouldn’t let him inside the house
His wife wouldn’t let him inside the house. She handed him boxes and suitcases and even clothes in a bin bag
One neighbour said: ‘Matt was just dropping off the kids and picking up some things in a low-key way. Everyone here knows he’s trying to do his best by the family in sensitive and difficult circumstances.’
An onlooker said: ‘His wife appeared and handed him a bin bag which clearly had clothes in it. He took it and walked to his car. This went on for about 15 to 20 minutes. He had his head down the entire time.’
The onlooker said up to ten boxes, a couple of suitcases, as well as the bin bag and coffee machine were crammed into the car. His wife was overheard asking him to swap a child seat into a different car.
He stepped down from his Cabinet role last month after CCTV footage was leaked of him breaching Covid social distancing rules by kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo.
She has three children with Oliver Tress, founder of homeware firm Oliver Bonas.
Matt Hancock stepped down from his Cabinet role last month after CCTV footage was leaked of him breaching Covid social distancing rules by kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo, left
Matt Hancock pictured with his wife Martha Hancock. An onlooker said: ‘His wife appeared and handed him a bin bag which clearly had clothes in it’
Mr Hancock had met Gina when they worked on the Oxford University student radio station together in the 1990s.
He was a minority sports reporter on Oxygen FM while studying for a philosophy, politics and economics degree. Ms Coladangelo was on the same course and also worked at the radio station where they became close friends.
They would have studied together, volunteered together on the radio station and socialised together while at Exeter College, Oxford.
Matt Hancock, former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with Gina Coladangelo
She was described as Hancock’s ‘closest friend’ from university when he appointed her as an unpaid adviser last year.
Mr Hancock has spoken fondly of his days working alongside Ms Coladangelo on the now defunct radio station.
As newly appointed Minister for Digital and Culture in 2016 he said: ‘I think I somehow knew, when as a student I worked as minority sports correspondent for Oxygen 107.9 FM, that one day I’d become Minister for radio.’
Earlier this week councillors in Newmarket passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Hancock, their local MP.
Mayor of Newmarket Michael Jefferys, who is a member of the Labour Party, used his casting vote to pass the motion at a meeting of Newmarket Town Council this week, with five voting for, five against and four abstentions.
The passed resolution states that the West Suffolk MP Mr Hancock has ‘neglected the best interests of his constituents’ and, as health secretary, ‘demonstrated hypocrisy and hubris in the pursuit of his own interests’.
The Conservative MP resigned from the Cabinet last month after footage was published of him kissing an aide in his departmental office, in breach of coronavirus rules.
Mr Jefferys said he has been ‘dismayed’ at Mr Hancock’s performance as an MP and as health secretary, adding: ‘For someone in such a responsible position to then behave in the way that he has is for me the last straw.’
West Suffolk Conservative Association said after Mr Hancock’s resignation that it had received a ‘heartfelt apology’ from him, and formally backed him to continue representing the constituency.
A spokesman for the association said in a statement on Wednesday: ‘Even the Labour/Independent-controlled local town council couldn’t find a majority against Matt Hancock.
‘We are very grateful for the strong local support Matt is receiving.’
Gina Coladangelo was said to have denied the existence of any romance between her and Mr Hancock when she was quizzed by one of his allies.
The pair have been pictured together at public gatherings for nearly two years, with one image dating back to the Conservative Party Conference in September 2019.
‘They are in love,’ a close friend of Mr Hancock had said, adding: ‘It is serious.’
Millionaire lobbyist Gina Coladangelo (pictured above) was questioned in the summer of 2019 after Matt Hancock’s ally became suspicious of their closeness, reports said
Mr Hancock had written in his resignation letter: ‘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 Prime Minister said he was ‘sorry’ to receive Mr Hancock’s resignation as Health Secretary.
He said Mr Hancock ‘should leave office very proud of what you have achieved – not just in tackling the pandemic, but even before Covid-19 struck us’.
Boris Johnson added: ‘I am grateful for your support and believe that your contribution to public service is far from over.’
