Matt Hancock has slammed Professor Neil Ferguson for his “extraordinary” breach of coronavirus lockdown rules, adding he was left "speechless" by his actions.
The Health Secretary was quizzed over reports which emerged of Prof Ferguson allowing his "lover" Antonia Staats into his London home on at least two occasions while the lockdown was in place.
The top scientist has now resigned from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), admitting he made an "error in judgement".
Asked about Prof Ferguson's actions, reported by the Daily Telegraph, Mr Hancock told Sky News: "It's extraordinary. I don't understand."
Police should consider whether to take further action against the scientist, he added.
Mr Hancock said that it was “just not possible” for him to continue his role within Sage, saying he made the right decision to resign.
He added: "Professor Ferguson is a very eminent and impressive scientist and the science that he has done has been an important part of what we have listened to.
"I think that he took the right decision to resign."
Pressed on whether the academic should be prosecuted, he added: "It's a matter for the police".
Prof Ferguson, 51, a leading epidemiologist at Imperial College London, steered Boris Johnson’s approach to the pandemic with his team’s modelling warning of 250,000 deaths if Britain did not enter lockdown.
He was a vocal critic of the Government’s "herd immunity" strategy and has risen to become the most prominent scientist backing the social distancing curbs.
But the Telegraph on Tuesday reported that he had allowed his lover to cross London from her family home to visit him on at least two occasions since lockdown began on March 23.
The visits allegedly occurred shortly after Prof Ferguson emerged from self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19.
The second of the visits, on April 8, allegedly came after Dr Jennie Harries, England’s deputy chief medical officer, and Mr Hancock clarified that non-cohabiting couples had to stay apart.
Prof Ferguson said in a statement that he had “made an error of judgement”, adding: “I deeply regret any undermining of the clear messages around the continued need for social distancing to control this devastating epidemic. The Government guidance is unequivocal, and is there to protect all of us.”
On Wednesday morning Home Office minister James Brokenshire agreed he had made an “error of judgement” and stressed social distancing measures are “there to protect us all”.
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He added that the academic’s resignation was “an appropriate course” of action after the sacrifices Brits have made during the pandemic.
