THE leader of Basingstoke council has said that “all levels of government have to be transparent in everything they do”, after footage showing Health Secretary Matt Hancock kissing aide Gina Coladangelo in his ministerial office has again raised questions over the appointment of ministerial advisers and officials in Whitehall.

Speaking to the Gazette, Cllr Ken Rhatigan said he believed Matt Hancock had made the correct decision in stepping down from his role as secretary of state for health.

“He was in a position of trying to influence others, and I feel it just doesn’t sit right if he didn’t [resign],” he said.

“Otherwise it would be a distraction over the next three weeks where we are trying to get to a point where we can unlock society. Most people know I have concerns with the government’s decision on that. Keeping us locked up for longer is not what it’s about.”

He added: ““I am sorry that he has had to go, and the work he has tried to do as health secretary, many bits have been really good, and many bits could have been improved. But no one could have known the right path through this pandemic.

“It should not be your boss telling you it's a mistake, it should be down to the individual.

It’s one individual, he does not represent the whole government.

“I am sure Sajid Javid, who I have met, will do a fantastic job as health secretary.”

Cllr Rhatigan, who this week celebrated a milestone birthday, agreed that it cannot be one rule for one person and another for the rest of the country.

He said: “I am having a gathering today, outdoors, for my 60th birthday. I am sticking to the rules, and I think he should too.

“People have not been able to enjoy themselves. If they’ve even had weddings or events they’ve been scaled back, and the reality is [this breach] is probably just the tip of the iceberg if I’m honest!”

University friend Mrs Coladangelo was initially taken on by Mr Hancock as an unpaid adviser on a six-month contract in early 2020, before being appointed as a non-executive director (NED) at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) later in the year.

Dr Catherine Haddon, from the think tank the Institute for Government, said that like the saga of financier Lex Greensill – who was an unpaid adviser to David Cameron – Mrs Coladangelo’s position made it difficult to define what her role actually was.

Ministers are allowed to make direct appointments of unpaid advisers for specific purposes or to undertake urgent or short-term work, but this process has been criticised.

In a post on the Institute for Government’s website, Dr Haddon said for “vaguely appointed” advisers such as Mrs Conadangelo: “We don’t know what access they have to meetings and papers or where they sit in a department’s hierarchy.

“There needs to be more transparency around what they do, on what basis they are appointed and who is accountable for their conduct.”

Mrs Conadangelo was then made an NED which, according to a job advert posted by DHSC for four of the positions, offers pay of £15,000 for 15-20 days of work a year.

A No 10 spokesman insisted on Friday that the “correct procedure” had been followed in relation to Mrs Coladangelo’s appointment, but refused to go into further detail.

Asked whether he would welcome an investigation into the appointment, Cllr Rhatigan said: “I would have thought anyone employed by central government goes through scrupulous checks.

“I think there is a point where we have to see those allegations looked into. However, she has resigned, so she is no longer a non-executive member of the board and therefore it would be historic work.

“I am happy for them to investigate, but it is difficult when somebody has resigned.”

He continued: “But I hope, when there is a review of all non-executive directors that a rigorous process is met.

“All levels of government have to be transparent in everything they do.”

Offering an example, he added: “I was invited out for golf at Weybrook the other week, and I will have to declare that because it was over £25. If I am happy to declare little things, I would hope people are declaring big things!”

Offering his final thoughts on the scandalous events of the past few days, Cllr Rhatigan said: “He has hurt two families out of this. They should not be forgotten in this and I wish them well to patch their lives together.

“There are six children involved in this. Adults make mistakes, but children should not be harmed by those mistakes.”