the country battled covid. and often seen at his side was this woman, gina coladangelo — a former lobbyist, adviser to the health secretary and long—term friend. but on friday came this image of them kissing in matt hancock's office, breaking, as he admitted, his government's own covid guidelines and plunging his career into crisis. last night, he quit. 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've got to resign. matt hancock hoped to ride out this storm — a cabinet minister with big ambition, who had the backing of the prime minister. number 10 considered this matter closed and it was mr hancock who decided to step down. what has been clear over the last 2a hours is that a sizeable minority