Police should consider action against Neil Ferguson over lockdown breach, Matt Hancock suggests

Police should consider action against the scientist who was forced to step down as a Government adviser after admitting he broke the social distancing rules he had been influential in bringing about, Matt Hancock has suggested.

The Health Secretary said the "extraordinary" actions of Professor Neil Ferguson, who The Telegraph revealed allowed his married lover to visit him at home, had left him "speechless".

Speaking after the disclosure led the Imperial College scientist to quit his role on the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage), Mr Hancock said he had taken "the right decision to resign".

Signalling anger within the Government at Prof Ferguson, whose research was pivotal to the UK entering lockdown in March, Mr Hancock also indicated that he should be prosecuted.

The Health Secretary's intervention came as a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Thursday that the force was "looking into" the incident, adding: "We are aware of the reports, and the Government guidance refers to everybody."

Asked whether the police should prosecute Prof Ferguson, Mr Hancock told Sky News: "It's a matter for the police – as a Government minister, I'm not allowed to get involved in the operational decisions of police matters.

"But I think the social distancing rules are very important and people should follow them.

"They [the police] will take their decisions independently from ministers – that's quite right, it's always been like that.

"And that's why, even though I've got a clear answer to what I think as a minister, the way we run the police is that they make decisions like this. So I give them their space to make that decision, but I think he took the right decision to resign."

Asked whether he believed Prof Ferguson should have remained on Sage, Mr Hancock added: "That's just not possible in these circumstances.

"Professor Ferguson is a very eminent and impressive scientist, and the science that he has done has been an important part of what we've listened to. I think he took the right decision to resign."

Separately, Home Office minister James Brokenshire said that while Prof Ferguson's resignation was a "matter of regret", his actions meant it was an "appropriate course" of action.

The backlash comes after The Telegraph disclosed that Prof Ferguson had allowed his lover to visit him  at home in London on at least two occasions during the lockdown, on March 30 and April 8.

His actions have given rise to allegations of hypocrisy, with critics pointing out that his research with Imperial College London – which warned that 250,000 people could die with drastic action – influenced the Government's decision to enter lockdown.

Approached for comment, Prof Ferguson told The Telegraph: "I accept I made an error of judgment and took the wrong course of action. I have therefore stepped back from my involvement in Sage.

"I acted in the belief that I was immune, having tested positive for coronavirus, and completely isolated myself for almost two weeks after developing symptoms.

"I deeply regret any undermining of the clear messages around the continued need for social distancing to control this devastating epidemic. The Government guidance is unequivocal, and is there to protect all of us."