Hancock pictured without mask in North Greenwich station

The former health secretary, 43, apologised after he was seen entering the underground station on December 11 without a face covering on.

He attended Capital's Jingle Bell Ball at the O2 Arena, one of a number of public appearances in recent weeks.

Mr Hancock resigned from the Cabinet earlier this year after leaked CCTV showed him in a clinch with an aide.

His kiss and cuddle with Gina Coladangelo, 44, broke social distancing guidelines at the time, forcing him to step down.

Mr Hancock was spotted in North Greenwich station at around 10.45pm, after the festive music bash, without a mask.

Face coverings must be worn for the full duration of journeys on public transport under current Covid rules, including inside stations

A frustrated onlooker, who asked not be named, caught the maskless Mr Hancock on video, at the bottom of the escalators, before he had reached the turnstiles.

They said: "Everybody else in the station was wearing a mask - I think that's why we took a double look.

"We confronted him. He said sorry and put one on. I do question if he would have if we hadn't confronted him."

A spokesman for Mr Hancock said: "Matt was on his way to the tube and put his mask on as he was making his way into the tube station.

"Matt is careful to wear his mask on the tube, which he travels on a lot, and is very sorry for not putting it on sooner in this case."

The onlooker said they also challenged Mr Hancock about the recent revelations over Christmas parties at No10 - but he refused to comment.

The West Suffolk MP has made several media appearances in recent weeks, including on 'Good Morning Britain'.

It is believe that he attended the Capital gig with his daughter, where his choice of outfit - a turtleneck - set tongues wagging.

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