MATT Hancock’s resignation as Health Secretary in the wake of the media feeding frenzy that followed the publication of a photo of him caught contravening lockdown rules (it showed him in a close encounter if the worst kind with his aide, Gina Colangelo, with whom he was having an affair) was inevitable, especially after the PM had announced, when the scandal broke, that he stood by and had the utmost confidence in Mr Hancock.

Recent scandals involving ministers have shown us that the time between a PM backing a minister caught up in a scandal, and that minister being sacked or resigning, is between one and three days.

The person I feel most sorry for is Hancock’s wife – betrayed by her husband and humiliated at that betrayal being made public.

Matt Hancock’s appalling behaviour underlines the truth in the observation that so many men in high places obviously keep their brains in their trousers (or, perhaps more to the point, don’t).

But I am sorry to see him go, because I think he had actually done a pretty good job as Health Secretary during the worst public health crisis in more than a hundred years.

What a pity that he will not be remembered for that – but for throwing away his career for a snog.

And, by the way, anyone care to hazard a guess as to just who was responsible for leaking the photo of Hancock and his mistress in a steamy embrace in his office? I, for one, have a pretty good idea of who it might be.

ROBERT READMAN

Norwich Avenue West, Bournemouth