FORMER health secretary Matt Hancock has announced he will step down as an MP at the next General Election.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, he said the Conservative Party must “reconnect with the public we serve”.
This comes following Hancock’s stint on I’m A Celeb, something which was condemned by Rishi Sunak.
Hancock said he had “discovered a whole new world of possibilities which I am excited to explore” and that he was “incredibly proud” of what he achieved during his time in Government, where he served as health secretary during the height of the Covid pandemic.
He was forced to resign from that post after video footage of him emerged of him kissing aide Gina Coladangelo in a breach of coronavirus restrictions.
Following his time in the jungle, there was much speculation surrounding whether or not Hancock would continue to serve as an MP.
He has also released his Pandemic Diaries, in which he has insisted Nicola Sturgeon yearned for a travel ban with England and that she forced the Tories into a U-turn on face masks.
My letter to the Prime Minister 👇 I look forward to exploring new ways to communicate with people of all ages and from all backgrounds pic.twitter.com/PPvWB6McyM
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) December 7, 2022
The letter read: “For my part, I want to do things differently. I have discovered a whole new world of possibilities which I am excited to explore – new ways for me to communicate with people of all ages and from all backgrounds.
“I look forward to championing the issues that are dear to my heart, including better support for dyslexic children who get a raw deal for the education system.
“It has been an honour to serve in Parliament and represent the people of West Suffolk. I will play my part in the debate about the future of our country and engage with the public in new ways.”
Hancock was first elected as an MP for West Suffolk at the 2010 General Election. Prior to his time as health secretary, he served as paymaster general and as culture minister.
