Matt Hancock is pushing his 'shattered' long-Covid hit wife to 'breaking point' with his list of break-up demands, friends of the couple have today claimed.
They say the former Health Secretary is being a 'complete a******e' to wife Martha who has been left feeling 'very low' in the wake of her husband's affair with aide Gina Coladangelo.
The Tory MP, 43, was earlier this week spotted on a romantic Alpine break with his new lover.
Meanwhile, friends of the couple say Martha, 44, has been at the family home 'desperately trying to keep it together' for their three children.
However, she has been 'cheered up' today by the words of columnist Sarah Vine, according to friends.
Ms Vine, who is going through a split with Mr Hancock's Conservative colleague Michael Gove, wrote in her Mail on Sunday column today that she was 'hugely grateful' not to be married to Mr Hancock.
And friends say the column struck a chord with Martha, who is said to have particularly enjoyed Ms Vine's jibe about his 'throbbing ego'.
One friend told MailOnline: ‘The suggestion Martha is "getting on with life" is so far from the truth - in fact she has long Covid and is absolutely shattered.
Matt Hancock (pictured) is pushing his 'shattered' long-Covid hit wife to 'breaking point' with his list of break-up demands, friends of the couple have today claimed
They say the former Health Secretary is being a 'complete a******e' to wife Martha (pictured) who has been left feeling 'very low' in the wake of her husband's affair with aide Gina Coladangelo
However, Martha been 'cheered up' today by the words of columnist Sarah Vine (pictured), according to friends
'Matt is being a complete arsehole to her, issuing demands while poor Martha is at breaking point, but trying desperately to keep it all together for the kids, one of whom had to start school last week.
'Her family are rallying round her but she is very low after an awful few months, and worried about her children.'
The friend added: 'The only thing that's cheered her up a bit was Sarah Vine's article about being glad she wasn't married to Matt - everyone was roaring with laughter at the "throbbing ego" bit.’
It comes as another friend of Matt and Martha Hancock described the former Health Secretary as 'despicable' over the way he ended his marriage which left his wife 'crushed'.
Mr Hancock is said to be plotting a political comeback despite being forced to quit cabinet over his infidelity.
The Tory MP was exposed in June kissing Ms Coladangelo, who he had appointed as an adviser, in his private office, breaching the social distancing guidelines that he had established.
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, pictured centre, was photographed alongside his lover Gina Goladangelo, left, earlier this week in the Swiss Alps
Mr Hancock's wife Martha, pictured, was in London and was responsible for the school run
Mr Hancock was forced to resign for breaching social distancing guidelines after he was shown in CCTV footage kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo inside his ministerial office
The family friend told The Telegraph: 'Martha has been crushed by this, and Matt is only interested in his career and his mistress. He is a despicable individual.
'He has shown no concern for Martha or the children. He has been uncaring to Martha even though she backed him throughout his career and introduced him to the people that made his career. She has always defended him throughout.'
Mr Hancock tried to ride out the political storm over his flagrant breaches of Covid-19 regulations and his marital infidelity but was eventually sacked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
He was replaced as Health Secretary by former Chancellor Sajid Javid.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to conduct a reshuffle of his cabinet and Mr Hancock is hoping for a return to the front line like Mr Javid who resigned over a row with the PM's then chief adviser Dominic Cummings.
The family friend continued: 'Matt Hancock is a horrible individual. He is definitely not a gentleman. He keeps trying to suggest that all is fine when everyone has been left shattered by this. He has been horrible to Martha and has not at any point apologised to her or the rest of the family for what he has done.'
Mr Hancock and his wife Martha met at Oxford and were married in 2006. Ms Colandangelo, a mother of three, is married to Oliver Tress, owner of the eponymous high street chain.
The Sun published CCTV footage from inside Mr Hancock's private office showing the then Health Secretary in an illicit clinch with his adviser, who he has known since university.
Mr Hancock and Ms Coladangelo were photographed at a £87-a-night in Villars-sur-Ollon, near Montreux, Switzerland.
The pair, who have continued dating since their affair was exposed, have been staying at The Villars Mountain Lodge, described on the hotel's website as 'resolutely modern and at the same time delightfully authentic'.
The couple, who have continues dating since their affair was exposed, appeared in high spirits and they head out for dinner with friends
Matt Hancock (left) donned a baseball cap, sunglasses and a jumper while Miss Coladangelo (right) dressed casually in a denim jacket
Boasting hot showers, a bar and diner, 'cozy beds, ultra-soft pillows and soundproof rooms', the hotel is around a 90 minute drive from the city of Geneva and provides views of the famous Mont Blanc.
Known for skiing and its eye-wateringly expensive boarding schools, the village is also part of the wider resort of Villars - a favourite with royalty and celebrities.
This week's pictures showed Mr Hancock wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses and a face mask while Ms Coladangelo dressed casually in a denim jacket and black dress as the pair head out for dinner with friends.
As the pair continued to enjoy their break away, Mr Hancock's wife Martha, 44, who met the former
