It’s for us the public to decide when we’re done with Hancock
The Matt Hancock ‘situation’ doesn’t at present show signs of abating, unlike Mr Hancock himself. The situation is serious although, this being Britain, there’s been plenty of sniggering too.
Media use of phrases such as “appeared to” and “allegedly” to accompany CCTV images of the erstwhile Health Secretary with a close personal friend have seldom seemed so risible.
The Government wants to “move on” and is optimistically suggesting everyone else do the same. Good luck with that.
Have you ever heard anyone say “Move on, there’s nothing to see” who was actually correct about that? Whenever we hear those words we know there’s something juicy going on.
Hancock’s relationship with Gina Coladangelo is – to use a phrase he would prefer us not to – his affair. The British public is always amused by politicians’ philandering: David Mellor, Robin Cook, John Major, Paddy Ashdown, John Prescott … Boris Johnson.
What makes Hancock different is that the affair he appeared to be allegedly having involved breaking laws he was instrumental in making.
Opposition MPs are affecting to see only the gravity of Hancock’s behaviour; even if in reality they’ve been laughing themselves to sleep for days now.
His office shenanigans are triviality itself compared to certain other events on his watch.
At first Downing Street said the Prime Minister had accepted Hancock’s apology; as though he was in a position not to, or that was all that mattered.
After Hancock eventually resigned, head first, Government attention then turned to the issue the public is fretting about most. Who was it that grassed up Matt to the papers? Come on, whodunnit?
Presumably the whistleblower in question is to receive due commendation for drawing public attention to such a serious malefaction in high office.
Meanwhile Justice Secretary Robert Buckland has had his own office swept; “just in case there are unauthorised devices in there that could be a national security breach.” Not that this was an issue this time last week.
It’s for the public, not anyone else, to say when they “consider the matter closed” and it isn’t yet.
There’s just too much fun to be had before then.