Was Matt Hancock’s affair with married aide first exposed by Katie Price’s ex-fiance Kris Boyson?
‘It’s not just a fling’: Matt Hancock was spotted with a ‘mystery brunette’ in a Chelsea restaurant two weeks after THAT kiss – and he and Gina Coladangelo have been spotted together at events for YEARS
- Katie Price’s former fiance Kris Boyson, 31, posted a video on Instagram that he claims was taken on May 18
- Clip filmed in Ours restaurant appears to show health secretary Matt Hancock spending time with his ‘lover’
- CCTV images of Hancock kissing aide Gina Coladangelo were allegedly taken a fortnight earlier on May 6
- Source claim that his apparent relationship with mother-of-three Coladangelo is ‘serious’ and ‘not just a fling’
Matt Hancock was spotted with a ‘mystery brunette’ at a restaurant in Chelsea two weeks after CCTV images show him kissing aide Gina Coladangelo – as sources now claim their relationship was ‘serious’ and ‘not just a fling.’
The Health Secretary, 42, who is married with three children, last night faced mounting calls to resign after he admitted breaching lockdown rules after bing pictured kissing and embracing Coladangelo, 43, who is also married with three children, on May 6.
Sources told the Times that their relationship – understood to have begun last month – was ‘serious’ and ‘not just a fling’, although the Department for Health and Downing Street have refused to confirm whether it is ongoing.
Despite the bombshell images emerging yesterday, it has since been claimed that Mr Hancock’s affair with his adviser was first exposed by Katie Price’s former fiance Kris Boyson at a restaurant in Chelsea several weeks ago.
Celebrity personal trainer Boyson, 31, posted a video on Instagram that he claims was taken in the fashionable Ours restaurant on London‘s Old Brompton Road on May 18.
The shocking CCTV images of Hancock kissing Gina at the Department for Health’s HQ – which began circulating on Friday – were allegedly taken a fortnight earlier on May 6.
Filming himself describing the scene with his back to the pair – believed to be the Health Secretary and his secret love – Boyson tells of his surprise at seeing them together.
However, Mr Hancock and Ms Coladangelo – who met while studying at Oxford University – have been pictured together at public gatherings for nearly two years, with one image dating back to the Conservative Party Conference in September 2019.
Matt Hancock and Gina Coladangelo pictured at the Conservative Party Conference on September 29, 2019 (left), and allegedly in Kris Boyson’s video (right, to the right and behind the personal trainer) which he posted to Instagram on May 18 this year
In the resurfaced footage, Boyson says to the camera: ‘I’ve just seen what’s his name again…my man Matt Hancock.. Hancock… I can’t even say it… he’s with two girls that don’t look…’
At this point an unseen male friend shouts a crude remark, to which Boyson says: ‘Don’t make me say that word.’
While speaking to the camera he surreptitiously zooms in on the table in question behind him.
Although the images aren’t clear they do appear to show a woman who resembles Mrs Coladangelo, a married mother-of-three, and a man who resembles Hancock – as well as a third person whose identity is unclear.
Boyson then continues talking to the camera, saying: ‘They don’t look like they’ve voluntarily come out with him just for a dinner if you know what I mean.’
The friends all laugh and jeer at this point and the film ends.
Filming himself describing the scene with his back to the pair – believed to be the Health Secretary and his secret love – Boyson (left) tells of his surprise at seeing them together. For most of the clip, Mr Hancock appears to be sat behind a woman wearing white boots (right)
Ms Coladangelo appears to be sat on the left-hand side. While speaking to the camera Boyson surreptitiously zoomed in on the table in question behind him
Now Boyson is convinced it was the Health Secretary and Ms Coladangelo. A friend told MailOnline: ‘Kris can’t believe it. It’s madness how it’s all blown up.’
It follows the Prime Minister’s official spokesman saying Boris Johnson now ‘considered the matter closed’ and refused to answer questions on whether Mr Hancock broke the law or ministerial code.
The Health Secretary admitted he had ‘let people down’ and said apologised for flouting social distancing rules.
But Mr Hancock failed to deny claims of a long-term affair after images revealed his passionate clinch with millionaire lobbyist Ms Coladangelo – which took place eleven days before the ban on hugging was lifted.
In an extraordinary statement, he did not mention his wife of 15 years Martha, who was pictured looking solemn while walking the family dog near their north London home on Friday, only saying he had ‘let people down’ and wanted ‘privacy for my family on this personal matter’.
As Mr Hancock fights for his political life, Labour and the Liberal Democrats branded him a ‘hypocrite’ who should be fired for kissing a lover and ignoring his own ‘hands, face and space’ mantra while telling the UK not to hug their loved-ones and not to have casual sex and stick to ‘established relationships’ to stop coronavirus spreading.
A solemn Martha Hancock walks the couple’s dog near their north London home today as her husband admitted he had ‘let people down’ and said sorry for flouting social distancing rules
But despite the scandal, Mr Hancock still hopes to survive and said: ‘I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances.
‘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’.
The Prime Minister’s decision not to sack Mr Hancock prompted fury last night across the political spectrum, among members of the public and even from business leaders enraged by the Health Secretary’s hypocrisy.
Tory whips were bombarded with complaints from their MPs.
A Savanta ComRes snap poll found the public wanted Mr Hancock to quit by a margin of 58 to 25. A separate YouGov survey had the margin at 49 to 25.
Mr Hancock said sorry for breaking social distancing and asked for ‘privacy’ for his family, but refused to resign as Health Secretary
This is the image that has left Matt Hancock fighting for his job today that appears to show him kissing his millionaire aide – who is on the public payroll – in the corridor outside his office in May this year
Support for the 42-year-old was ebbing even in Downing Street, with one senior figure saying his conduct was ‘gross’ and describing the apology he offered yesterday as ‘pathetic’.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: ‘It will all be down to public opinion – it’s the only thing No 10 cares about. They’re polling, focus-grouping all the time and if that starts showing the public want him out then he could be gone by Monday.’
Another Conservative MP said: ‘It’s getting like Animal Farm: all animals are equal but some are more equal than others.’
Sayeeda Warsi, a former Conservative Party chairman, attacked the failure to sack Mr Hancock, saying: ‘It’s a bad decision by Matt and a bad decision by the PM.
‘He’s got a huge amount of questions to answer in relation to Covid contracts, access to parliament, giving out jobs. Is there anything anybody could do any more which would make them resign?’
Hannah Brady, of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said: ‘Hancock has treated bereaved families with contempt. He’s got to go.’ In a letter to Mr Johnson the campaign group said that Mr Hancock’s continuing presence in the Cabinet was ‘an embarrassment to the Government’.
Labour also called for the Health Secretary to go and branded the Prime Minister ‘spineless’ for failing to sack him.
The Health Secretary, 42, has been seen having a passionate clinch with millionaire lobbyist Gina Coladangelo (pictured here with Matt Hancock outside Downing Street in May), according to The Sun
Martha Hancock looked sad and upset as she left the couple’s north London home this morning after claims that her husband has been having a secret affair. She didn’t comment
The Hancocks – who met while they were both students at Oxford University – split their time between London and West Suffolk, the constituency he represents. While his farmhouse (pictured) was closed up today, locals hit out at the hypocrisy of married Mr Hancock being caught in a steamy clinch with Mrs Coladangelo
Party chairman Anneliese Dodds said: ‘The charge sheet against Matt Hancock includes wasting taxpayers’ money, leaving care homes exposed and now being accused of breaking his own Covid rules. His position is hopelessly untenable. Boris Johnson should sack him.’
It comes as newly emerged footage appears to show Mr Hancock checking the corridor is clear before closing the door, leaning on it to stop it opening before the pair launch into their passionate embrace.
And speaking to MailOnline tonight, the aide’s millionaire businessman father Rino Coladangelo, 70, refused to comment other than to say: ‘My daughter is a wonderful woman.’
There was no on-camera apology to the public from the Health Secretary yesterday despite questions over whether he had lost his focus on the pandemic.
Mr Hancock has been married for 15 years to wife Martha, with whom he has three children
Mrs Coladangelo (pictured here with husband Oliver Tress – the founder of the Oliver Bonas clothing chain), who is a director and shareholder at lobbying firm Luther Pendragon
Matt Hancock smiles and laughs at his alleged lover as they leave the BBC after appearing on the Marr show in June
When Neil Ferguson, a key government adviser, resigned for breaching lockdown rules last year, Mr Hancock said he was right to go and the police should investigate.
Last September Mr Hancock told people not to start romantic relationships because of the risk it could spread Covid.
And on May 16, ten days after his clinch with Miss Coladangelo, he said people should be ‘careful’ about the new freedom to hug – and suggested they should do so only outside with people who had been fully vaccinated. Liberal Democrat health spokesman Munira Wilson said: ‘Matt Hancock is a terrible Health Secretary and should have been sacked a long time ago for his failures.
‘This latest episode of hypocrisy will break the trust with the British public. He was telling families not to hug loved ones, while doing whatever he liked in the workplace.
‘Rules for them and rules for us is no way to run a country.’
Mystery surrounds the recruitment of Miss Coladangelo, who met Mr Hancock while volunteering at the student radio station at Oxford University in the 1990s. She worked on Mr Hancock’s failed Tory leadership campaign in 2019 and was secretly taken on as an unpaid adviser at the Department of Health last year before being made a non-executive director on a £15,000 contract.
A Tory source said the pair had become inseparable, adding: ‘They always appeared to be incredibly close. Her status was always slightly mysterious but she went everywhere with him. She was in every meeting.’
The Health Secretary was grilled about his conduct by senior figures from the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team before Mr Johnson decided he would stand by him. The Prime Minister, who was sacked by Michael Howard for lying about an extramarital affair, is said to have been reluctant to hand the media a scalp.
Downing Street refused to comment yesterday on whether Mr Hancock had offered his resignation at any point.
The episode echoes the infamous lockdown-busting trip to Durham made by Mr Cummings last year.
Paul Charles, founder of The PC Agency, a travel consultancy, said: ‘Most people in the country will be asking themselves why they should listen to advice on travel and social distancing when the Health Secretary isn’t even following the rules. The sector has been so badly hit, it’s even more galling now to see ministers in such positions.
‘Most people will be questioning whether Matt Hancock has any position of authority.’
In its letter to the Prime Minister, Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said: ‘If Matt Hancock is unable to find the decency to do the right thing and resign his position it is paramount that you relieve him from it.’
Mr Hancock’s kiss with Ms Coladangelo, a mother-of-three whose husband Oliver Tress is the founder of clothing shop Oliver Bonas, is alleged to have taken place in the corridor outside his office at the Department for Health’s headquarters in central London at around 3pm on May 6 this year – the day of the UK local elections and a week after his first coronavirus jab.
Mr Hancock is said to have checked the corridor is clear before closing the door, leaning on it to stop it opening before launching into their passionate embrace. The Sun claims they have been having an affair that has been the talk of the department – but it is not known if they remain in a relationship that was a secret until today.
He married Martha, 44, in 2006 and the couple have three children together. Mrs Hancock looked sad and upset as she left the couple’s home but didn’t speak to reporters about her husband’s alleged infidelity. Her husband was nowhere to be seen, however, she was still wearing her wedding ring.
The shutters were closed at the £4.5million South London home Mrs Coladangelo shares with Oliver Tress and their three children today. They are also believed to have a country home near the West Sussex coast. She has been working as an advisor for Mr Hancock since last year, with one source saying: ‘Before Matt does anything big, he’ll speak to Gina’.
But they first met at Oxford University 25 years ago at their college’s radio station and Mrs Coladangelo is friends with Matt Hancock’s wife on Facebook and they have spent time together socially.
Matt Hancock’s glamorous mother-of-three ‘lover’ Gina Coladangelo, 43, is married to the millionaire behind Oliver Bonas and boasts a string of celebrity friends
Gina Coladangelo works for the company her husband Oliver Tress (pictured together several years ago) founded – while also being Mr Hancock’s closest aid
The woman Matt Hancock has been allegedly having an affair with is a millionaire communications director of fashion firm Oliver Bonas, which was the brainchild of her husband.
Gina Coladangelo works for the company her spouse Oliver Tress founded – while also being Mr Hancock’s closest aide. The mother of three, 43, is a major shareholder – as well as director – of the lobbying firm Luther Pendragon.
Mrs Coladangelo, who lives with her husband and their three children in South West London, appointment to the Department of Health in March 2020 by Mr Hancock sparked uproar due to her outside interests.
Mr Hancock and Mrs Coladangelo, who it was revealed last night have allegedly been having an affair, first met at Oxford University while working on student radio together.
She studied politics, philosophy and economics (PPE) at Oxford between 1995 and 1998, the same as Mr Hancock.
Despite them knowing each other and apparently maintaining their friendship, Mr Hancock married Martha Millar in 2006, with whom he now has three children.
Mrs Coladangelo has been spotted leaving Downing Street with the Health Secretary on a number of occasions. A source told the Sunday Times last year: ‘Before Matt does anything big, he’ll speak to Gina. She knows everything.’
But her new role was not made public despite her getting access to £15,000 from the taxpayer.
She was an unpaid adviser for Mr Hancock but claims of ‘chumocracy’ emerged in November when it was revealed she was attending confidential meetings.
Mrs Coladangelo was made a non-executive director at the Department for Health in September. She shows off the role on her LinkedIn page and has to ‘oversee and monitor performance’.
Away from work, Mrs Coladangelo has three children – Talia, Bruno and Layla. In 2012 she told the Daily Mail how she had returned to work while being a mother.
She paid for a live-in nanny at their home in south-west London and worked flexible hours.
Gina Coladangelo leaves the BBC with Mr Hancock on June 6
Mrs Coladangelo said: ‘I don’t worry about my children being closer to their nanny, because I spend as much time as I can with them.
‘I would never dream of telling other mothers what to do with their lives. Every woman has to make her own choice.
‘But I feel very fortunate in my education and believe those years shouldn’t be wasted. I want to work to give something back.’
Her husband Oliver gave an interview to the Financial Times in November 2015 and spoke about their house. He said: ‘Our indulgence was moving to a bigger home in Wandsworth in September. We barely had a garden in Clapham, but the new house has a bigger garden and more space downstairs.
‘We might be able to build an extension. The mortgage will still be pretty considerable, as retail businesses are not necessarily throwing up a lot of cash. I am not a tycoon.’
