Matt Hancock in hot water over icy London swim as Serpentine Swimming Club says his chilly morning dip in his underwear in Hyde Park broke lake’s ‘members only’ rules
- He peeled off the layers for a dip in Hyde Park’s icy Serpentine lake this morning
- The 43-year-old had been out running with the Parliamentary Running Club
- He got in and braved the screamingly cold waters to paddle for around 20m
He has been out in the cold politically recently but Matt Hancock found himself in hot water today after stripping off for a bracing winter swim.
The disgraced former health secretary, forced to quit last year after a lockdown-busting affair with a senior aide, peeled off the layers for a dip in Hyde Park’s icy Serpentine lake at 7.45am this morning.
The 43-year-old braved London’s an air temperature of zero and water at just 4C for a plunge after a jog with the Parliamentary Running Club.
But the al-fresco lengths appear to have riled local swimmers by contravening the rules. Serpentine Swimming Club this afternoon tweeted a link to pictures of Mr Hancock’s swim, adding: ‘Serpentine swimming is strictly for members only, and no guests permitted.’
The former health secretary peeled off the layers for a dip in Hyde Park’s Serpentine lake this morning
The 43-year-old braved London’s sub-zero temperatures for a plunge after a jog with the Parliamentary Running Club
He got in and braved the screamingly cold waters to paddle for around 20m before deciding that discretion was the better part of valour and retreating to a warming towel, the Standard reported.
He was joined in the water by former Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland and Lord Bethell, who was a junior health minister under him when in government.
The former minister was pictured getting in and braving the screamingly cold waters to paddle for around 20m before deciding that discretion was the better part of valour and retreating to a warming towel, the Standard reported.
He was joined in the water by former Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland and Lord Bethell, who was a junior health minister under him when in government.
It is not the first time Mr Hancock has shown his sporting prowess in front of the cameras.
Last year he was snapped by the Standard leaping energetically over fences in St James’s Park in Westminster.
He also took part in the 2021 London marathon in October to raise funds for St Nicholas Hospice Care in his West Suffolk constituency.
Critics claimed it was a crude bid to rebuild his shattered reputation after he quit government in June for breaking Covid rules with his mistress aide Gina Coladangelo.
But the move backfired quickly, with his JustGiving page flooded by people calling themselves Martha Hancock, Del Boy, the Prime Minister and even his mother donating the minimum sum and writing an accompanying message condemning his behaviour.
The Met Office has said temperatures are around average for the time of year, with overnight lows of 1C (33.8F) in London
Mr Hancock quit government in June for breaking Covid rules with his mistress aide Gina Coladangelo (below)
Bracing: Earlier swimmers had to break a layer of ice on the serpentine before getting in this morning.
Last year he was snapped by the Standard leaping energetically over fences in St James’s Park in Westminster.
He also took part in the 2021 London marathon in October to raise funds for St Nicholas Hospice Care in his West Suffolk constituency.
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