That, we have now got Waiting List at at record highs, 5 Million in the Waiting List, people waiting longer for cancer treatment, young people struggling to get Mental Health treatment. Over 2000 people waiting over two years for an operation or treatment, that is staggering. Can you imagiNe Being in Pain And Anxiety are having to wait over two years for treatment . Hundreds of thousands of people waiting for over a year. Our Waiting List are so massive you can see them from outer space. This is a record of failure and this is the challenge for the new Health Secretary to drive down the Waiting List and deliver the Quality Care that people in the country deserve. Joining us now, a Liberal Democrat mp, thank you for being with us. Liberal democrat mp, thank you for being with m Liberal Democrat mp, thank you for being with ve Liberal Democrat mp, thank you for being with Ne Being with us. Given the Matt Hancock had being with us. Given the Matt Hancock had not being with us. Given the Matt Hancock had not resigned being with us. Given the Matt Hancock had not resigned yesterday, were you surprised he went this evening . L were you surprised he went this evenin . , were you surprised he went this eveninu . ,. , evening . I felt it was inevitable, with the Revelations Evening . I felt it was inevitable, with the revelations that evening . I felt it was inevitable, with the revelations that came L Evening . I felt it was inevitable, l with the revelations that came out yesterday morning. And when he didnt resign and the Prime Minister said the matter was closed. There are big questions to be asked about the Prime Ministers tudjman, which are shown time and time again to be very pair. The fact he said it was closed yesterday and the Health Secretary has gone today, i wonder what was perhaps going to come out in the paper the Prime Ministers judgment. Lets notjust focus on what has happened in the last 48 hours and these revelations, the people of this country have been let down throughout this pandemic. We still dont have proper support for those who need to self isolate. That is key to breaking chains of transmission with this virus. That has got to be a priority to fix for the new Health Secretary. We need to make sure we dont allow any more dangerous radiance from abroad by quicker actions at our orders and we need to know why thousands were left exposed at Care Homes and we need that enquiry to be set up very quickly because trust is evaporating has evaporated in this government already. And the public deserve and need answers. I already. And the public deserve and need answere already. And the public deserve and need answers. I wonder what you are ickin U Need answers. I wonder what you are picking up from need answers. I wonder what you are picking up from your need answers. I wonder what you are picking up from your constituents need answers. I wonder what you are picking up from your constituents in l picking up from your constituents in terms of reaction to the story when first appeared yesterday . And it started obviously with first editions appearing on Social Media on Thursday Night and was the story of the Day Yesterday and assumed to be a lot of commenting on it. Was it playing at all with your constituents . Playing at all with your constituents . , � , constituents . Yes, ive been getting Emails Yesterday constituents . Yes, ive been getting Emails Yesterday and constituents . Yes, ive been getting Emails Yesterday and today constituents . Yes, ive been getting Emails Yesterday and today about | E Mails Yesterday And Today about it. Traffic on Social Media. I have just been at an event this afternoon where talking about it. Everybody, whatever their political persuasion is discussed that the by this. This is double standards, something we have seen time again from the conservative government are the pandemic, one rule for us and one rule for them. You cannot be the Rule Maker and then be the rule breaker. He stood there week after week asking the public to make immense sacrifices. People could not hold their love warrants, and there he is, bracingly and frequently making the rules again frequently breaking the rules himself. That is why he had to go. D0 breaking the rules himself. That is why he had to 90 breaking the rules himself. That is why he had to go. Do you think the government why he had to go. Do you think the government needs why he had to go. Do you think the government needs to why he had to go. Do you think the government needs to rethink why he had to go. Do you think the| government needs to rethink things like its decision on allowing a large numbers of Football Fans to attend the euro is final at wembley, given that we are dealing with details of variant at the moment . I details of variant at the moment . I was quite shocked to see such large numbers being allowed at wembley. I do think that needs to be revisited. More importantly, the two and a half thousand fans allowed into the country without quarantining, one rule for us and one for them. The british public have made immense sacrifices and many are desperate to go on holiday, to see Loved Ones abroad so they havent seen for 18 months and they cannot do that at the moment for many countries, and yet the rules have been waived, legislation slipped out. To allow uefa officials to escape quarantine. It is just absurd. 5ajid uefa officials to escape quarantine. It isjust absurd. It is ust absurd. Said javid is the it isjust absurd. Said javid is the new health it isjust absurd. Sajid javid is the new Health Secretary,. It isjust absurd. Sajid Javid Isj the new Health Secretary, we it is just absurd. Sajid javid is the new Health Secretary, we are told. In a sense he will come in with a certain amount of goodwill, even for the opposition parties, because he has had nothing to do with any of this. Briefly chancellor of the exchequer and that the government very soon after. Any sense that gives him a position of strength, in terms of the Prime Minister not wanting to lose to hill in rapid succession. How should you that authority . Health secretaries. That authority . Health secretaries. That authority . Health secretaries. ,. ,. , secretaries. Leisure soppy does a better ob secretaries. Leisure soppy does a betteriob than secretaries. Leisure soppy does a betterjob than his secretaries. Leisure soppy does a betterjob than his predecessor. I betterjob than his predecessor. There has been a catalogue of failure throughout the pandemic, so, yes, he needs to use that Pressure And Goodwill to make a difference. That is why, as i said just before, one of the first things you can do to really make an impact, if we are going to come out of restrictions on the 19th ofjuly, the most important thing going forward, in terms of managing the virus, and living with dividers, which i think most people accept two territories are nicely and we know and have known for many months at the isolate part of the system is broken. Actually taking a strong, firm action. That many experts, many of us on the Opposition Benches have been calling Forfour Opposition benches have been calling for four months and months and months. Actually, ithink for four months and months and months. Actually, i think you could make an impact, if he took those requests and the suggestions and advice on board. And of course, the other big thing he needs to grapple with the social care reform, which he had totally failed to grasp the nettle. It was the premise of� S Promise on the steps of Downing Street two years ago and we still see nothing. Flan street two years ago and we still see Nothing Street two years ago and we still see nothing. Can a ashy one final thin , see nothing. Can a ashy one final thing. Briefly. See nothing. Can a ashy one final thing, briefly, and see nothing. Can a ashy one final thing, briefly, and that see nothing. Can a ashy one final thing, briefly, and that gina thing, briefly, and that gina departed Herjob Tonight on the Department Of Health, which surely that does not resolve the questions over the back she had a job with all . Over the back she had a 0b with all . , over the back she had a 0b with all . ,. ,. , all . There are huge Question Marks as to why she all . There are huge Question Marks as to why she was all . There are huge Question Marks as to why she was brought all . There are huge Question Marks as to why she was brought in, all . There are huge Question Marks| as to why she was brought in, under what circumstances, how she got a parliamentary pass before she even got that role. Throughout the pandemic we have seen this cronyism, where friends and contacts and donors have been given contracts, been given advisory roles, access to the heart of government. That all has to be part of this public enquiry that needs to be set up really urgently, because as i say, trust has evaporated and we need that transparency and a light shone on all the dealings throughout this pandemic. On all the dealings throughout this andemic. , ~ ,. , the actions of Mr Hancock have angered many within his own party. My colleague Shaun Ley spoke to the conservative mp andrew bridgen. I think used in the right thing for the country, if the Department Of Health and for the government i think he has done the right thing for the country two every Cabinet Minister needs to have the confidence of the public, notjust the Prime Minister, in particular Secretary Of State for health during a pandemic, and what has been clear over the last 24 hours is that for a minority or even majority of the public, they no longer have confidence in Matt Hancock. It wasnt the affair, it was the apparent hypocrisy of being someone who made the rules and broke their own rules. That made his position untenable at any time and particularly during a pandemic which has still got some weeks until we get to Freedom Day. Has still got some weeks until we get to Freedom Day. Should the Prime Minister have get to Freedom Day. Should the Prime Minister have realised get to Freedom Day. Should the Prime Minister have realised that get to Freedom Day. Should the Prime Minister have realised that 24 minister have realised that 24 school . I minister have realised that 24 school . ~ ~ , school . I think the Prime Minister but it was going school . I think the Prime Minister but it was going to school . I think the Prime Minister but it was going to bowl school . I think the Prime Minister but it was going to bowl over, school . I think the Prime Minister but it was going to bowl over, it i but it was going to bowl over, it was clear that the media were not going to let the issue drop. There will be more stories in the papers tomorrow. Ivejust come back will be more stories in the papers tomorrow. Ive just come back from a Day Camping in Batley And Spen and it is now an issue on the doorsteps, a distraction from the by election up a distraction from the by election up there and all the volunteers are working so hard. And his position had become untenable. Headlines for several days, and for the last 24 hours it is clear from my inbox, several days, and for the last 24 hours it is clearfrom my inbox, i dont doubt lots of conservative mps colleagues and other colleagues in the house, that public opinion is that he had to go and he is on the right thing. We that he had to go and he is on the right thing that he had to go and he is on the riuahtthin. ~ ~. , ,. , right thing. We know because at the time, right thing. We know because at the time. There right thing. We know because at the time. There is right thing. We know because at the time, there is a right thing. We know because at the time, there is a concerted right thing. We know because at the time, there is a concerted effort right thing. We know because at the time, there is a concerted effort by| time, there is a concerted effort by Downing Street to shore up the position and encourage backbenchers to go on the erosive defender. There are no backbenchers coming out to defend Mr Hancock over the last 24 hours. Was not significant to you . 24 hours. Was not significant to ou . , � ,. 24 hours. Was not significant to ou . , ~ ,. ,. , 24 hours. Was not significant to ou . ,. ,. , you . Yes. A brutal game, politics, and when youre you . Yes. A brutal game, politics, and when youre in you . Yes. A brutal game, politics, and when youre in trouble you . Yes. A brutal game, politics, and when youre in trouble in you . Yes. A brutal game, politics, and when youre in trouble in a and when youre in trouble in a situation like this, very few colleagues will come out and defend you. To an extent, i think is anyone going to die in a ditch when they felt that Matt Hancock had dug the ditch himself . I dont think so. The other question raised is the departure of the woman who was in those photographs, do you think it is The End of the matter or rather, questions for you that remain over the role she was performing at the Department Of Health on the Board Cut Department of health on the Board Cur �. , cut im not sure her departure will end the questions cut im not sure her departure will end the questions about cut im not sure her departure will end the questions about her cut im not sure her departure will end the questions about her role, | end the questions about her role, given the way the situation has played out. Although i have not heard anyone raise questions. In terms of the gap now, how quickly do you want a new Health Secretary in place . You want a new Health Secretary in lace . , you want a new Health Secretary in lace . ~ ,. Place . The Prime Minister will have to move fast. Place . The Prime Minister will have to move fast, because place . The Prime Minister will have to move fast, because i place . The Prime Minister will have to move fast, because i should place . The Prime Minister will have| to move fast, because i should point out, we are still any pandemic. There are people who have got experience running health service, who im sure are available, and other very experienced Cabinet Ministers who could be moved across. But i would expect we will have an announcement any matter of hours. And something else you said in the course of the interviewjust now as you think there will be more stories tomorrow. Is that part of the background to this . I think it became evident that there were going to be more revelations about the story. To be more revelations about the sto. � to be more revelations about the sto. �. ,. , story. And obviously that was further undermining story. And obviously that was further undermining public. Further undermining public confidence in the Secretary Of State for health. And that is absolutely essential for every Cabinet Minister, not only to have the confidence of the Prime Minister, but also the country. And you cant run a Health Policy during a pandemic where yoU Need compliance with rules, take away peoples freedoms, and people have no confidence in the person who is making the rails. Making the rails. There is an important making the rails. There is an important decision making the rails. There is an important decision to making the rails. There is an important decision to be making the rails. There is an l important decision to be made making the rails. There is an important decision to be made by the Prime Minister. Does this help or hinder him at all . There are a lot of people in the conservative parliamentary party, you being one of them coming to dispute that way, who been uneasy about the way, the effect on the economy and peoples individual freedom. Effect on the economy and peoples individualfreedom. A big march in central London Today of anti lockdown protesters. Evidence that people are out there and have his views. That people are out there and have his views. , ~ his views. These views. I think unfortunately his views. These views. I think unfortunately we his views. These views. I think unfortunately we have his views. These views. I think unfortunately we have got his views. These views. I think unfortunately we have got near. His views. These views. I think| unfortunately we have got near to end of the pandemic. I would have liked to have unlocked rather faster than we have. I think any enquiry into the way the government has handled the pandemic will have to take massive account of the long term effects of the lockdown, on Mental Health well being, damage to the nhs itself in the backlog of patients that will take a long time to be dealt with. And also, of course, the damage we have done to our economy. That has to be balanced with the fact it is clear now, the figures showing that although infections are increasing, they are in very persistent populations with younger people. We have broken the link. Between infections and hospitalisations and thankfully fatalities. Thats a fact, and i voted against the Governments Extension to lockdown the other week, and i think it certainly should be Freedom Day on the 19th of july. Obviously a lot of the work that Matt Hancock needed to do has been done, and we thank him for his efforts. It has been an unenviable job over the last 18 months, and he has handled it as well as i think anyone could, when there is no government knowledge, no history out there you could draw on, because the last thing we were in the situation was 100 years ago. Aha, last thing we were in the situation was 100 years ago. Was 100 years ago. A very quick final thought was 100 years ago. A very quick final thought on was 100 years ago. A very quick final thought on that. Was 100 years ago. A very quick final thought on that. Do was 100 years ago. A very quick final thought on that. Do you i was 100 years ago. A very quick i final thought on that. Do you think his departure removes an obstacle for colleagues like yourself who felt that perhaps some people in government were a bit too gung ho about lockdown . I government were a bit too gung ho about lockdown . About lockdown . I think it is highly likel we about lockdown . I think it is highly likely we are about lockdown . I think it is highly likely we are going about lockdown . I think it is highly likely we are going to about lockdown . I think it is highly likely we are going to be about lockdown . I think it is highly likely we are going to be having. About lockdown . I think it is highly| likely we are going to be having our Freedom Day on the 19th ofjuly. I dont think anything is going to change that now, and i think even Matt Hancock, the most lockdown keen of the county ministers, they must accept we have freedom on the 19th ofjuly. They have made huge sacrifices, but once people see the signs for themselves, i think compliance with any further lockdown rules two appetite for further lockdown is will wane very quickly. You can find out first year on bbc on the papers later. Much more reaction throughout the night here on bbc news