Matt Hancock’s tell-all interview on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast has been labelled ‘nauseating drivel’.
The former Health Secretary met with the Dragon’s Den star for an interview that lasted almost two hours.
In the chat, Hancock defended his now-very-public kiss with aide Gina Coladangelo, saying it was not casual sex but that he ‘fell in love’.
The tense clip from the podcast saw the MP repeatedly ask Bartlett to restart the section about his extramarital affair.
Bartlett said: “In September 2020 there was guidance given to stop us engaging in and having casual sex with people outside our household.”
Matt Hancock appearing on the Diary of a CEO podcast. Credit: YouTube, Diary of a CEO
Hancock then interrupted him and said: “Do you think you could ask that question in a little bit more respectful way?”
He later added: “Can we just start this section again?
“I don’t mind all of it except that opening bit about casual sex. I haven’t had casual sex with anybody, I fell in love with somebody.
“Let’s start this bit again and I’ll relax.”
Hancock said: “I resigned because I broke the social distancing guidelines. By then they weren’t actually rules, they weren’t the law, but that’s not the point.
“The point is they were the guidelines that I’d been proposing, and that happened because I fell in love with somebody.”
The clip has been widely shared on social media today since the podcast was released.
Jim Bob edited the clip with the music from Our Tune, a long-standing feature/segment on British radio presented by broadcaster Simon Bates.
I don’t know who* added music to this but it’s brilliant. (*It was me. I’m brilliant) pic.twitter.com/GeLWP2IFVt
Another person wrote: “Oh Jesus god. I’ve just seen polo-necked Matt Hancock explaining that he broke the social distancing rules because he ‘fell in love’. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a nauseatingly self-indulgent clip. It could be worse than his snog video.”
Many people also had comments to make about Hancock’s outfit of a dark polo-neck top with skinny blue jeans – including Lorraine Kelly.
Lorraine said on her show this morning that he looked like a ‘pound shop Milk Tray man’ in reference to the Cadbury advert that aired between 1968 and 1984.
Matt Hancock drinking Huel whist wearing a roll neck jumper and Top Gear jeans is my sleep paralysis demon pic.twitter.com/efYOUHi9IB
The Government agreed to delay the deadline for the scheme until 2026, but local leaders wanted to scrap all charges and help to fund vehicle upgrades instead.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) then set out evidence supporting an investment-led, and, crucially for residents and motorists, a non-charging Clean Air Plan back in June 2022 – which it said was ‘the best solution’ to address the roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) problem.
More than 1,300 Clean Air Zone signs to finally be taken down across Greater Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group | Flickr
And then, back in January of this year, it was confirmed that Greater Manchester’s plan for the introduction of a non-charging clean air zone had been backed by the Government.
More than 1,300 Clean Air Zone signs were installed across Greater Manchester at the start of the controversial scheme being initially proposed, as well as a total of 407 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
But while it was initially thought that this technology may go to waste, it was revealed in March 2023 that they were actually being used for an entirely different reason all together – detecting crime.
While the cameras are intended to stay in place and in use, the more than 1,000 signs are to be taken down.
“We’ve always been focused on doing what’s right for Greater Manchester, and by accelerating investment in our public transport network, we’re showing that it’s possible to improve air quality faster than if a charging Clean Air Zone had been introduced,” commented Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, who is the Clean Air lead for Greater Manchester.
“As we deliver our Clean Air Plan alongside the Bee Network, with support from the Government, we’ll roll out the UK’s first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system by the end of the decade and improve the air we all breathe for generations to come.”
Featured Image – The Manc Group
News
A charity match is being held in memory of late footballer Joe Thompson
Danny Jones
A fundraising match is being held in memory of late footballer and charity champion, Joe Thompson, who sadly passed away earlier this year.
The former Manchester United academy product and Rochdale AFC legend famously faced a long battle with cancer, being sadly diagnosed with nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma for the first time back in 2013, being forced into a prolonged period off the pitch and, eventually, early retirement by 2019.
Bath-born Thompson, who also played for Bury at the end of his career, was tragically struck by the illness on three different occasions; after stage four lymphoma spread to his lungs, he sadly died this past April at the age of just 36.
Just the most heartbreaking story, but in honour of Joe’s life, the two clubs closest to his heart and which she shared the strongest connection to are now set to remember him in a special charity game next month.
Announcing the game via social media on 26 July, Rochdale AFC confirmed it will be hosting the fundraising friendly between the Greater Manchester National League outfit and Man United’s under-21s.
Writing on the club website, Rochdale said: “Both clubs will come together to remember Joe, who meant so much to both Dale and United, on Saturday, 2 August (3pm kick-off).
“A minute’s applause will take place before kick-off, whilst members of Joe’s family, who will be in attendance, are selecting some of his favourite music to be played in the build-up to the game.
“Shirts from the match will also be auctioned off post-match, with proceeds going to Joey T’s Foundation when integrated.”
Detailing how his boyhood club have recently introduced the official ‘Joe Thompson Award’, presented to players who have the traits of not just a United person but, more importantly, Joe: “resilience, honesty, integrity, humility, innovation and a relentless work ethic, with a focus on the community.”
He was a truly inspiring individual.
Even after hanging up his boots, he kept moving for a good cause.
With all this in mind, Rochdale will be a charity exhibition match against United’s U21s squad – a team of players who are around Joe’s age when he left The Cliff to join Rochdale.
The club went on to add that all future fixtures between the clubs from now on will include a special trophy, with the first being the National League Cup match, which is due to be staged at their Crown Oil Arena home ground on 21 October.
As for this touching and heartfelt fundraising fixture, once again, the game will take place on Saturday, 2 August, kicking off at 3pm.
You can find out more details about the ‘A Game For Joe’ charity match in aid of the Thompson family’s foundation and grab your tickets HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
1st March 2022 
