Matt Hancock affair (2)

[TheoMeo]

Looks like we might need a new thread.

For nu-Tories, spending public money on themselves and their mates is basically in the manifesto. It's a feature, not a glitch.

Vote for the party of Johnson-Cummings and Rees-Mogg, get the party of Johnson-Cummings and Rees-Mogg.

@Backhills

Someone think it's CCTV or some sort of hidden camera? Because if it's CCTV, quite apart from viewing the footage other than for security purposes, it's not usually monitored so someone needed to know where and when to look to be able to leak it. Also CCTV cameras are supposed to be visible and labelled, how can they both not have realised it was there?

I've not watched it (sounds like you need a strong stomach) but am told the camera angle shifts round a little so seems to be controlled by someone watching unless motion sensitive.

There is a disgraceful campaign on Twitter to organize a protest at his house on Sunday ffs which homes his wife and three children. This could get pretty ugly pretty quick and be an obvious loon magnet as well as a massive invasion of privacy.

@bollihigh

There is a disgraceful campaign on Twitter to organize a protest at his house on Sunday ffs which homes his wife and three children. This could get pretty ugly pretty quick and be an obvious loon magnet as well as a massive invasion of privacy.

This is shocking and self defeating. By all minds lawfully protest (ie hands face space not arse etc) where permitted near the public office involved but NOT at a private family home with innocent spouse and children as this is way way out of order!

I thought that was because someone was filming a screen playing the video with their phone.

Sorry, failed to quote the right post.

@bollihigh

There is a disgraceful campaign on Twitter to organize a protest at his house on Sunday ffs which homes his wife and three children. This could get pretty ugly pretty quick and be an obvious loon magnet as well as a massive invasion of privacy.

Jesus Christ that is disgraceful. How callous has society become that people would self-righteously inflict on his wife and kids at their worst moment?

I really feel for the spouses. Its bad enough finding out your partner has been having an affair, without having a video to watch of them being intimate and getting it on, without all your friends and family and the entire country seeing that too and it being the main news story in the country!

Isn't that enough without a mob of righteous wankers turning up at your house too?

Yes, he broke the rules (and yes he ought to go ) but just as thousands on people here have said they have done for months

Exactly, some have followed every rule but many haven’t.

@IHateCoronavirus

Bloody hell his poor wife and kids. There is a special place in hell for someone who not only cheats, but does so knowing that any proof of affair would be so public. I feel sick for the poor woman.

The woman involved is just as complicit as him. Hope her DH chucks her out.

Didn’t people protest outside Dominic Cummings house for a while? It wouldn’t surprise me if this happened to MH - of course that would be disgusting.

Exactly, some have followed every rule but many haven’t

Yes, but those people aren't making the laws and telling us what we have to do.

When Prof Neil Ferguson, a top scientist and advisor on Covid, broke the rules to see his mistress, Hancock was apoplectic. Called for the police to investigate, said it was absolutely right that Ferguson resigned, said that he was 'speechless' about Ferguson's actions.

That to me, more than anything else, is why he should go. I feel sick at that level of hypocrisy.

I watched the video. His look around the door, the way he held her hand. It's clearly been going on for a long time I think. They seemed very comfortable with each other

I agree with this. I know a lot of people are cringing, but I think they seem to genuinely like each other in that video. If it weren't for the circumstances, I would feel sorry for them being filmed in that moment of closeness with each other.

If I were their spouses there would be no way back after seeing that.

@Rhayader I agree with you on the being willing to listen to persuasion on submissions. When he worked in our department he was a lot easier to work with than some ministers I've known. Didn't have fixed ideas, was prepared to listen to advice and evidence. Seen as a bit of a wet blanket but like you, I didn't think he had it in him (or her )

When Prof Neil Ferguson, a top scientist and advisor on Covid, broke the rules to see his mistress, Hancock was apoplectic. Called for the police to investigate...

I don't think he did call for the police to investigate -

Asked if he thought Prof Ferguson should have been prosecuted for his apparent breach of lockdown rules, the health secretary added: "It's a matter for the police, as a government minister I'm not allowed to get involved in the operational decisions of police matters...

I think any awkwardness in the video was through being caught out, someone trying to walk in, not them awkward with each other. The holding hands, talking, all of it suggested a long term closeness. If they were both single, then whilst it would be wrong to carry on like that at work, I wouldn't be bothered and feel sorry for them. It's the hypocrisy of the man - telling us to exercise caution when meeting up with loved ones (outside) the very same week as he was doing that. And that's without the heartache inflicted on their families...

Grow a pair Boris - sack him.

Oh do put a sock in it @Clavinova. What would this shitshow of a government have to do before you stopped defending it?

Whether this was Cummings's doing or not, what I really want to know is the "story behind the story"; in other words, what was he promised that he didn't get?

Even in politics, you don't go from being someone's close adviser for years to this - at least, not quite so fast

@Itsprobablynotcominghome
@Roussette

It's a very good game WorstMP, with quite a lot of contenders.
Ours is one of them.

It may need the addition of some dragons to toast the ones who reach the highest accolade. Probably need a large cage too.

I'm gobsmacked Clavinova can defend this idiot. I watched the interview of MH after Neil Ferguson was caught out. His righteous pious outrage was palpable.
I don't know how anyone can say otherwise.

Now he has egg on his face.

It’s gotta be Cummings. Got his name all over it

He is that spiteful, vindictive and in this case, probably right

Blossomtoes

Why do posters have to embellish the details - are facts not good enough then?

KissTheTeapot14
Oh yes indeedy.

There's some right pillocks serving in this Government around. Yet my adult DCs have got just brilliant MPs, popular, hands on with their constituents, the lot

And I end up with the pillock who has had this seat for about 27 years. What will it take to get him out I don't know. I despair of my fellow constituents to be honest.

I watched the interview of MH after Neil Ferguson was caught out.

That was over a year ago - I am nowhere near as cautious as I was last year. How long has Matt Hancock's affair been going on during Covid restrictions and how many times has he broken the rules? Without that information I cannot decide whether he should resign or not.

I am sure many of us are intrigued and inquisitive as to how wide ranging the flexible ministerial code and collective responsibilities are. Does it permit hypocritical acting beyond reproach above the law and justification for bullying, corruption and gross negligence. I am thinking along the lines of Westminster not Pyongyang. Essentially how low can they go? This message may probably not resonate with cult followers and dare I say many who appreciate others not taking Covid civic duty of care and obligations seriously too.