Inside Politics: Matt Hancock accused of ‘affair’ with taxpayer-funded adviser

Has the Tartan Army fuelled a spike in Covid cases? There was almost 3,000 new infections in Scotland in just 24 hours – with some scientists pointing to the passionate footie fans who travelled down to London as a contributing factor. Passionate holidaymakers desperate for adventure abroad will be pleased about the destinations moved onto the green list. But it’s our passionate health secretary who has tongues wagging this morning: Matt Hancock is accused of having an affair with a taxpayer-funded aide.

Inside the bubble

Political editor Andrew Woodcock on what to look out for today:

Transport secretary Grant Shapps will be out explaining changes to the travel list – and will be grilled on exactly how soon quarantine restrictions will be dropped for amber list countries. Elsewhere, the government is reportedly ready to publish its Events Research Programme study into the impact of big gatherings.

Daily briefing

HYSTERICS OVER BALEARICS: The champagne bottles are popping in Ibiza: the Brits are coming back from 30 June. Spain’s Balearic islands, Malta, Madeira, and several Caribbean destinations have been added to the travel green list, transport secretary Grant Shapps announced. Shapps also revealed that amber list quarantine restrictions for fully-vaccinated holidaymakers would be lifted “later in the summer”. But the travel industry isn’t happy. EasyJet has said it “simply isn’t ambitious enough”, while the Business Travel Association said it was “bitterly disappointing”. They are angry that most of the places turning green (including Ibiza) are still on a watch list – meaning they are at risk of turning amber again. Hopes of getting away to Europe remain hazy, after EU leaders lined up behind Angela Merkel’s demand for quarantine for UK visitors. France and Portugal said they supported the German chancellor’s call for a “co-ordinated” EU approach to hold back the Delta variant. Will Spain be able to hold out?

KISSING IN THE TIME OF COVID: Hold onto your cornflakes. Matt Hancock has been having an affair with an aide during the pandemic, according to The Sun. The paper has a photo of the health secretary “embracing” departmental aide Gina Coladangelo on its front page this morning – calling it a “steamy clinch”. Whitehall whistleblowers told the tabloid it was not a one-off. “They have tried to keep it a secret, but everyone knows what goes on inside a building like that,” said one. A friend of Hancock said: “He has no comment on personal matters. No rules have been broken.” Is Hancock in serious trouble (other than with his wife)? Labour will certainly want to follow the money. Hancock reportedly appointed the aide as an unpaid adviser on a six-month contract. Meanwhile, Labour is also asking questions about the government’s ban on junk food ads before 9pm on TV. Brands will be able to carry on promoting unhealthy products on their own blogs, websites or social media. “This ban alone will not be enough,” said shadow health minister Alex Norris.

HOT SHOTS PART DEUX? Could we see a repeat of the skirmishes in the Black Sea? Russia has warned the UK that it will take out any foreign warship that tested its territorial claims around Crimea – threatening to “hit the target” next time (having claimed to have fired warning shots at HMS Defender). But cabinet minister George Eustice said British warships would “of course” sail again through the disputed waters. Boris Johnson said it was “entirely right” for the British Navy to use the route. Not everyone seems to think the HMS Defender’s bear-prodding operation was smart. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab was not keen on the idea, according to The Telegraph. “The whole dispute was between Raab and [defence secretary] Ben Wallace, then it went to the PM,” one official. Tory MP Tobias Ellwood – influential chair of the defence select committee – said that had been “a good warm up” and called on the government to “continue in this vein”. Yikes.

ROAMING IN THE GLOAMING: Those Brexit benefits keep on coming. EE is to bring back roaming charges for new UK customers who use their phones in Europe. The move comes despite EE insisting – along with other networks earlier this year – that they had no plans to change terms after Brexit. It comes as No 10 said “radical changes” had to be made to the protocol beyond any three-month delay agreed over chilled meat import rules. Is a wider, long-term compromise deal possible? The EU ambassador Joao Vale de Almeida said Brussels was “turning regulations upside down to try and find a solution” to the Northern Ireland trade dispute. The European Commission’s vice president Maros Sefcovic said it was time for the UK to suggest permanent, workable changes. Dubbed the “sausage king” in Westminster due to the chilled meat dispute, Sefcovic told Politico: “We just want to have more predictability and stability … and not have this perpetual discussion product-by-product.”

ALL I ASK OF YOU: Andrew Lloyd Webber and other leading representatives of the UK’s music and theatre industry have launched legal action against the government. They want to force ministers to publish results of research into the impact of relaxing Covid rules. The Events Research Programme (ERP) has carried out trials of Covid mitigations – like mask-wearing and pre-entry testing – in a variety of big events. But the government has so far refused to release its findings. It comes amid accusations ministers do not want the publication of evidence which might bolster the case for a swifter reopening. “We simply must now see the data that is being used to strangle our industry so unfairly,” said Lloyd Webber. Les Miserables producer Cameron Mackintosh said “the theatre desperately needs to be supported in its hour of need” – calling on the government to back a joint insurance scheme to protect the industry against enforced closures.

MASK HATERS IN HIGH PLACES: Environment secretary George Eustice says he intends to stop wearing a face mask indoors as soon as it’s no longer a legal requirement. The minister said it’s still hoped all legal restrictions can end on 19 July. Asked if he would wear his mask indoors if all the rules are lifted on this date, Eustice said: “I wouldn’t, no … I have to be honest. I think a lot of people will want to shed those masks.” Rishi Sunak also told The Times he also expects to stop wearing the mask “as soon as possible”. Elsewhere, more than 70 MPs and peers have urged home secretary Priti Patel to scrap plans for a women-only immigration centre in County Durham. The new facility is expected to hold up to 80 women at a time when it opens this autumn. A cross-party group, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, have written to Patel with “grave concerns” about the “inhumane” centre.

On the record

“My plans at this stage are at the unformed stage, I’m afraid. I’m certainly not ruling it in or ruling it out.”

Boris Johnson isn’t ruling out a foreign holiday this summer.

From the Twitterati

“EE to reintroduce Europe roaming charges in January. 5 years ago I remember being told this was part of project fear.”

Green party’s Molly Scott Cato on post-Brexit roaming charges…

“Another Brexit win! ... has there literally been a single benefit from us leaving the EU at this point?”

…while Andrew Gentry wonders about those Brexit dividends.

Essential reading

Sean O’Grady, The Independent: EU roaming charges – another part of Brexit that disappoints

Cathy Newman, The Independent: It won’t be long before the next Black Sea incident

Steerpike, The Spectator: George Osborne grabs eleventh gig since No 11

Louise Perry, New Statesman: The UK is immersed in a class-culture war which Labour cannot win

Sign up here to receive this free daily briefing in your email inbox every morning