Watch live as Matt Hancock gives evidence to the Covid-19 inquiry on Tuesday, 27 June. The former health secretary, who was in office during the pandemic, will speak about his time as a minister between 2018 and 2021. Mr Hancock was one of the leading figures of the Tory government's response to the pandemic before being forced to quit in June 2021 after leaked footage emerged of him breaking social distancing guidelines by kissing Gina Coladangelo in his Whitehall office. The Covid inquiry is examining the government's preparedness for the pandemic. Mr Hancock is the latest high-profile politician to appear before the inquiry, following former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, former prime minister David Cameron, and former chancellor George Osborne. Mr Cameron conceded it was a "mistake" for his government to focus too heavily on preparations for combating the flu rather than a coronavirus-like pandemic, but defended the programme of austerity cuts to public services under his leadership between 2010 and 2016. Medics and unions have blamed the cuts for leaving the NHS in a “parlous state” before the pandemic hit.Click here to subscribe to The Independent: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent About The Independent: Making Change Happen. The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Connect with The Independent: Check out our full video catalog: null Videos, daily editorial and more: http://www.theindy.com/ Click here to get the best of The Independent daily: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Like The Independent on Facebook: https://www.fb.com/TheIndependentOnline Follow The Independent on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Independent Follow The Independent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.independent Download the iOS & Android app: https://www.independent.co.uk/subscribe/app Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust - https://www.independent.co.uk/donations Subscribe to Independent Premium for exclusive content & live events: https://bit.ly/2MiOONB