Former health secretary turned I'm a Celebrity Star Mat Hancock has asked for forgiveness from the public for breaching his own Covid guidance in a groveling video.
However, he has refused to apologise for his affair, his handling of the pandemic or his decision to enter the celebrity jungle. Mr Hancock, 44, came third in the hit ITV show which is decided by a public vote.
In an interview with the Daily Mai l following his return to the UK from Australia where the show is filmed, Mr Hancock has opened up on his relationship with hiis former aide, and now girlfriend Gina Coladangelo.
Mr Hancock resigned after images of kissing Ms Coladangelo in his office in Whitehall, in breach of his own department's public health guidance regarding contact with others during the pandemic, were published last year.
He has now admitted it was a 'failure of leadership' and has asked for the public to forgive him. However, he says he will not apologise for his feelings towards Ms Coladangelo who he says he fell 'deeply' in love with.
"I want forgiveness for the mistake I made, the failure of leadership at the end of the pandemic when I fell in love with Gina and I broke the guidance that I'd signed off" he said.
"I want forgiveness for the human error I made... but I'm not asking for forgiveness for how I handled the pandemic. I woke up every single morning determined to do the very best I could in the most impossible circumstances until I needed to go to bed at night. I did that for 18 months.
"There is a good, honest explanation for every single decision I made, whether it turned out to be right or not."
He said: 'I don't seek forgiveness for falling in love with Gina because I love her very deeply." Adding: 'I'm not going to give excuses, I put my hands up and I take responsibility.'
"This was an affaire de coeur and therefore my political judgement was off" he said as he revealed how the pair, who were both married at the time and have three children each, took around six weeks to decide to 'make a life together.'
He said he was forced to tell his family about the situation the night he was confronted by a newspaper saying they were going to expose the relationship.
He was in tears in the car as he travelled to see the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson to tender his resignation and that the 18 months since had been 'shockingly awful' he said.
"It's been absolutely horrific, especially for Gina. I've had an absolute bucket of s*** poured over my head,' he said. Ms Coladangelo was filmed greeting Mr Hancock as he departed the jungle last week. 'It was wonderful to see Gina on the bridge, it hasn't been easy" he said.
"It hasn't been easy for me or those that I love and I don't seek sympathy because I brought it on myself. But it was wonderful to see her.."
Despite having the Tory whip suspended Mr Hancock insists he was in the jungle 'as part of my job, not instead of my job' and that he hoped he had 'shown people who I really am – not just the Matt Hancock on the podium.'
The interview conincides with the beginning of the seralisation of Mr Hancock's 'pandemic diaries.'
According to the Mail Mr Hancock, who returned to the Commons for the first time today (Friday) plans to donate part of his reported £400k fee to charity before getting back to work in Parliament.
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