Councillors in Matt Hancock’s Newmarket constituency have passed a vote of no confidence in the former health secretary after he was caught breaking coronavirus rules by kissing his adviser.

A motion was passed on the casting vote of Labour mayor, Councillor Michael Jefferys, after the council was deadlocked at five votes to five, with four councillors abstaining.

It states that West Suffolk MP Mr Hancock has “neglected the best interests of his constituents” and “demonstrated hypocrisy and hubris in the pursuit of his own interests”.

Conservative MP Mr Hancock resigned from his position as health secretary in June after video footage emerged of him breaching COVID rules by kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo in his departmental office.

Images published by The Sun were from the 6 May – more than a week before the easing of social distancing rules around close contact indoors for people from separate households.

In his letter of resignation, Mr Hancock said: “The last thing I would want is for my private life to distract attention from the single-minded focus that is leading us out of this crisis.

“I want to reiterate my apology for breaking the guidance, and apologise to my family and loved ones for putting them through this. I also need (to) be with my children at this time.”

Ms Coladangelo also left her position at the Department of Health and Social Care.

West Suffolk Conservative Association said it had received a “heartfelt apology” from Mr Hancock following his resignation and formally backed him to continue representing the constituency in parliament.

But Mr Jeffreys said he had been “dismayed” at Mr Hancock’s record as health secretary and that his rule-breaking was “the final straw”.

Related posts:

Northern Ireland’s lockdown extended to 1 April – but some children to return to school earlier PM pledges UK’s surplus vaccines to poorer nations as he calls for 100-day target for new jabs Khan urges BAME communities to get vaccine after he receives jab Style over substance and too quick to shift sides? Why high-flying Hancock had no safety net to save him when he fell Labour MP right to call PM a liar in Commons – Starmer Home Office ‘appears to be failing’ Windrush generation again with compensation scheme No more isolation for fully vaccinated arrivals from France, as India moved off red list Priti Patel visits Greece for discussions on tackling illegal migration No ‘free-for-all’: Wales set to move to alert level zero – but FM warns it ‘does not mean end of restrictions’ Geronimo the alpaca set to die after No 10 refuses stay of execution ‘Sausage war’ truce holds as UK indefinitely extends grace period for post-Brexit checks PM refuses to rule out more tax rises ahead of next election as he defends National Insurance hike