Matt Hancock told his wife their 15-year marriage was ‘over’ on Thursday evening after learning how pictures of him kissing an aide were about to become front page news.
The now ex-Health Secretary woke up his youngest child to deliver the devastating blow that he was departing the family unit, according to reports.
Mr Hancock this evening bowed to huge pressure from MPs and quit, with Downing Street announcing former Chancellor Sajid Javid as his replacement.
The dad-of-three returned home shortly after receiving a call from The Sun to inform him about the data leak revealing his indiscretion with Gina Coladangelo – which appears to have cost him his career.
His alleged affair is thought to have come as a shock to his wife, Martha, 44, who considered their relationship ‘happy’ and ‘stable’, The Sunday Times reports.
Mrs Hancock is understood to be furious after battling Long Covid having picked up the virus from her husband.
Now Mr Hancock plans to ‘set up home’ with ‘love match’, Mrs Coladangelo, 43.
A friend was suspicious of their ‘obvious chemistry’ in 2019, it has emerged, despite denials of any romance.
The pair became engulfed in controversy after the footage emerged of them in a passionate embrace in his ministerial office on May 6, sending shockwaves throughout Westminster.
Mr Hancock has apologised for breaching social distancing guidelines but defied pressure to resign until this evening when he succumbed to the demands of MPs – including three Conservatives.
But he faces questions over whether he broke the ministerial code by appointing Mrs Coladangelo, married to the founder of fashion chain Oliver Bonas, Oliver Tress.
Mr Hancock met the mum-of-three when they were both studying at Oxford University.
He brought her on board as an aide in 2019 before giving her a non-executive director position.
Mrs Coladangelo is said to have accompanied Mr Hancock to a meeting of G7 health ministers in Oxford on June 3 to 4.
The event, which involved dinner and an overnight stay, happened just weeks after their kiss.
A Cabinet source launched a scathing attack on Mr Hancock, telling The Sunday Times: ‘She went with him to the G7 health ministers summit.
‘Did he disclose this to the PM? If it was shown he was shagging on the taxpayer he had to go.
‘He’s been puritan-in-chief in the government and now it turns out he’s a massive, lying hypocrite.’
Mrs Coladangelo was spotted putting possessions in a car outside her home on Thursday night, with a friend describing her mood as ‘cheery’.
But Mr Hancock may not be feeling so upbeat amid suggestions he could be deselected as the Conservative candidate for his West Suffolk constituency as grassroots party members unleash their fury.
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