Matt Hancock faces bizarre public backlash after rugby incident in London Park
Health Secretary Matt Hancock seems to have landed himself in hot water after an image of him holding a rugby ball was published in a newspaper.
The health secretary who is one of the focal points of Britain’s coronavirus task force, came under fire this weekend when an image was published of him looking muddy holding a rugby ball.
Britain is currently gripped in a Covid-19 lockdown as cases sore in many parts of the country. Sports such as rugby can continue at an elite level however at grassroots the game has been completely stopped.
Critics accused him overstepping the mark saying that he contradicted the government’s advice to “act like you have the virus.”
The story was posted in the Mail on Sunday and unsurprisingly many rugby fans have come to his aid
on this occasion, give the man a break pic.twitter.com/3giAicLhKm
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) January 17, 2021
Many rugby fans pointed out the fact that he was just exercising, something that the government encourages.
One comment said – “He went out for exercise no is that not permitted under the rules?” – Attich Rahman
Others pointed out that this was not really a story and it was being publicised for no reason.
I can give the media a list as long as my arm of things to criticise Matt Hancock about. Playing rugby for a bit with his son in a park isn’t one of them.
— kiramadeira 🤔 (@kiramadeira) January 17, 2021
Others were not so supportive of the Health Secretary.
“In a busy park with his son, playing Rugby, obviously wearing no face covering. When spoken to by a member of the public, it looks like Hancock did not socially distance while walking past him. This is probably because he doesn’t follow his own Govts C19 rules across the board.” – John Kettering
The witness told MailOnline: ‘I was there at about 3.30 this afternoon… Suddenly I saw Matt Hancock, he was there playing rugby with his son I think. He walked right up to me and I saw he was covered head to toe in mud.’https://t.co/2Zi1ePuHOX pic.twitter.com/JJYS9tokfr
— Jack Elsom (@JackElsom) January 16, 2021
