A Kent MP has been branded an embarrassment after thanking disgraced Tory Matt Hancock for his "leadership" in the wake of his extramarital affair being exposed.

Conservative Helen Whately has taken to Twitter to send a message of support to the humiliated former Health Secretary.

In it, the MP for Faversham and mid-Kent, who is also the minister for social care, praised Mr Hancock's "optimism and hard work" during the pandemic.

But the post sparked an angry response, with some social media users questioning whether she was joking.

Mrs Whately wrote: "Thank you Matt Hancock for your leadership, optimism, and hard work through the toughest imaginable time to be Secretary of State for Health and Social Care."

Mr Hancock resigned from his high-ranking role on Saturday, after video footage emerged of him kissing an aide in his ministerial office.

The images showed the politician in an embrace last month with Gina Coladangelo, a university friend of his, who was working as a non-executive director in the Department for Health and Social Care.

Legislation in place at the time said “no person may participate in a gathering” that “consists of two or more people… and takes place indoors”.

An exception to this rule was that the gathering was “reasonably necessary for work purposes or for the provision of voluntary or charitable services”.

And a barrage of criticism was sent Ms Whately's way following her comment yesterday.

One respondent said: "If you must, Helen, thank him privately.

"Most of us across the country need to catch our breath after such untrustworthy, hypocritical and selfish behaviour."

Meanwhile, it was suggested Ms Whately "should seriously think about deleting your Twitter account".

Another response read: "Not that hot at reading the room Helen.

"Let's put aside the myriad legit questions about PPE, cronies, test and trace, care homes, etc - people couldn't hug at funerals."

And one more added: "Hard work?

"It’s now well-publicised that he actually had more time on his hands to pursue 'interests' other than health and social care while 1,000s around him were dying.

"Extremely disrespectful and naive tweet particularly to his family who must be devastated at this time."

Read more: All the latest news from Faversham