Local MP Robert Largan says he welcomes Matt Hancock's resignation as Health Secretary after he breached social distancing guidance by kissing a colleague.
On Friday, The Sun newspaper published pictures and then a video of Mr Hancock and his aide Gina Coladangelo, who are both married with three children, kissing. The newspaper said they had been taken inside the Department of Health on 6 May.
Mr Hancock issued an apology on Friday, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson accepted and said he considered the matter to be "closed".
But after coming under intense pressure to quit, Mr Hancock resigned on Saturday evening. In a video posted on Twitter, he said: "I understand the enormous sacrifices that everybody in this country has made, that you have made, and those of us who make these rules have got to stick by them and that's why I have got to resign."
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) June 26, 2021
He has since been replaced by former Chancellor and Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who said he was "honoured" to be appointed as health secretary "at this critical time".
In his first public comments on the subject on Monday, Mr Largan, the Conservative MP for the High Peak, has said he made contact with No.10 when the news about Mr Hancock's rules breach emerged to "make it clear his position was untenable".
He told the Chronicle: “On Friday morning, when the evidence of breaking Covid restrictions emerged, I contacted Downing Street and made it clear that Matt Hancock’s position was untenable. Therefore, I welcome his resignation.
"I also welcome Sajid Javid as the new Health Secretary and will work with him to continue to deliver the vaccination programme and keep fighting to secure new urgent care centres for both Tameside Hospital and Stepping Hill Hospital.
"I hope that Sajid will bring fresh eyes to the role and that we are able to end all remaining Covid restrictions as soon as possible."
High Peak MP Robert Largan
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