Boris Johnson has appeared to suggest that he was in control of Matt Hancock’s departure as health secretary, saying the events triggered by a leaked photo and video of the former minister kissing an aide happened at “about the right pace”.
However, Downing Street admitted on Monday that Mr Johnson did not sack his health secretary, or even urge him to quit, and merely accepted Mr Hancock’s resignation.
The prime minister, who was on a campaign visit to Batley this afternoon, also refused to deny using his personal email address to conduct government business.
“I don’t comment on how I conduct government business,” he said.
Asked about Mr Hancock’s resignation, which came around 48 hours after the story first emerged, and after Mr Johnson had already declared the matter closed, the prime minister said: “I read the story on Friday and we’ve got a new health secretary in post on Saturday and I think that’s about the right pace to proceed in a pandemic.”
