“How bad are the photos? WhatsApp leak reveals Hancock's 41-hour battle to save his job after affair with assistant

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Matt Hancock's leaked WhatsApp messages revealed the former Health Secretary's rush to save his job after his rule-breaking affair with his wife was revealed assistant.

Attempt at crisis control lasted 41 hours after scandalous photos of ex-minister with aide Gina Coladangelo were published.

The exchanges are among the latest conversations WhatsApp to emerge from the leak of more than 100,000 messages from journalist Isabel Oakeshott to The Telegraph.

After receiving a call from the editor of The Sun Victoria Newton at 6.54pm on June 24 that his affair was soon to become public, Mr Hancock informed Boris Johnson and then returned home to tell his wife and children the news.

Leaked conversations show Mr Hancock discussing media strategy with his special adviser, Dominic Poole, in the hours that followed as they went back and forth to find out if any rules had been broken .

As he awaits publication, Mr Hancock asked Mr Poole: "How bad are the photos?"

Said it was "intense hugging and stroking", he replied, "How the hell could we photograph that?"

Mr Hancock can be seen asking Mr Poole to 'keep the focus' on Ms Coladangelo's nomination, rather than whether the hug and kiss broke social distancing laws .

The posts also show Mr Hancock and Ms Coladangelo's reaction to a video obtained by The Sun.

Ms Coladangelo was working as a paid adviser to the government at the time, acting as a non-executive director in the Department of Health and Social Care.

In response to the video showing the two kissing, Ms. Coladangelo said, "OMFG."

Mr. Hancock said: "Crikey. I'm not sure there's much news value in there and I can't say it's a very enjoyable viewing.

Matt Hancock's seizure control attempt lasted 41 hours

(PA Media)

In his diaries, worked with Ms Oakeshott and published last year, Mr Hancock said he had resigned as Health Secretary after his colleagues failed to defend him publicly.

Mr Hancock has said Mr Johnson assured him he could continue even though he and Ms Coladangelo were pictured kissing in his office in breach of...