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Matt Hancock has been charged with violating his own coronavirus curfew by drinking in a Commons bar after 10 p.m.
It is also claimed that the Secretary of Health made a joke about the government tests and tracking failures.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Hancock arrived at the bar just before the 9.40pm vote earlier this week and ordered a glass of white wine.
Then he announced: “Drinks are on my own, but Public Health England is in charge of the payment methodology so I won’t pay anything.
His joke came after he had tried to explain to the Commons why nearly 16,000 positive tests for coronavirus had been missed.
An anonymous senior Conservative MP claimed that Mr. Hancock stayed in the Smoking Room bar until at least 10:25 PM.
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Pubs and bars in England are supposed to close at 10pm according to the government’s own closing rules.
Spokeswoman Sir Lindsay Hoyle has insisted that the Commons bars also comply with the rule.
In a statement, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said: “No rules have been broken.
“The Secretary of State was in the Smoking Room before the vote that night.
“The Secretary of State came out of the Smoking Room to vote. The vote took place at 9:42 p.m.
“The secretary of state then left parliamentary property to go home.”
(Image: UK PARLIAMENT / AFP via Getty Imag)
When asked if Hancock had returned to the bar after voting before going home, the spokesperson did not respond, according to the newspaper.
MPs were banned from purchasing alcohol after 10 p.m. after parliamentary authorities said their bars and restaurants would not be exempt from early closing times.
Places serving alcohol in the Palace of Westminster were expected to be exempt from the new coronavirus rules, as they qualify as “workplace canteens,” according to The Times.
But after a furious backlash, a Parliament spokesman said: “Alcohol will not be sold after 10 pm anywhere on the parliamentary estate.”
The catering facilities will remain open after that time serving food for staff working during the night.
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