MI5 will discuss leaked Matt Hancock kiss footage with Cabinet Office 'as CCTV camera in Health Secretary's office is covered over by black masking tape'

MI5 is set to hold discussions with the Cabinet Office over leaked footage of Matt Hancock kissing his aide amid government concerns over a security breach with the Cabinet Office.

They will this week hold talks on whether the leaked footage, which shows Mr Hancock locked in an embrace with his aide Gina Coladangelo, could constitute a national security breach.

It comes as the CCTV camera that filmed the former health secretary and his aide has reportedly been covered over by black masking tape as a precautionary measure while an internal probe is ongoing.

Mr Hancock resigned as Health Secretary less than 48 hours after pictures emerged of him in a passionate embrace with Gina Coladangelo, pictured together above

Matt Hancock in the Department of Health office.

The Department of Health and Social Care has launched an internal investigation into how the footage was leaked to the media.

They are also investigating why the CCTV camera was installed in the office. It emerged the camera had been there since at least 2017.

A police source said that the footage raises the issue of blackmail.

'Hancock having a kiss with his girlfriend is not a national security issue, it's a national embarrassment issue,' the source told The Times newspaper.

'But it raises issues of blackmail and extortion.

'What if sensitive material on docu-ments could be seen on the cameras and passed on to those who wish Britain harm? That would certainly elevate it.'

Mr Hancock resigned as Health Secretary less than 48 hours after pictures emerged of him in a passionate embrace with Ms Coladangelo at the Department of Health.

He told Boris Johnson in his letter of resignation that the Government 'owe it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down'.

Images and video showed Mr Hancock in an embrace with aide Ms Coladangelo last month inside his private office

The former health secretary told his wife, Martha, he would be leaving her on Thursday night - immediately after discovering that his affair with Gina Coladangelo was about to be laid bare.

Images and video showed Mr Hancock in an embrace with aide Ms Coladangelo last month inside his private office, sparking intense pressure on him to quit over the breaking of social-distancing rules.

Friends said on Saturday night the pair had been seeing each other for around six weeks, but were a 'love match'.

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