Matt Hancock has confirmed that he will not stand to be re-elected as an MP for the Conservative Party at the next General Election.
The former Health Secretary is currently the MP for West Suffolk, a position he has held for 12 years, and confirmed that he will continue to represent his constituency until the next election which will take place no later than January 2025, after which he will step down. It comes after Hancock's contentious stint on ITV's I'm A Celebrity, an appearance which led to him having the Tory whip suspended.
The MP said that he plans to "engage with the public in new ways" when he departs Government in two years' time after discovering a "new world of possibilities". He also listed his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and "restoring the nation's finances" among his "achievements" during his time as a minister.
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In a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Hancock wrote: "I do not intend to stand for the Conservatives at the next General Election. I am very grateful for my conversation with the Chief Whip last week, in which he made clear he would restore the whip in due course, but that is now not necessary."
The MP went on to say that he is "incredibly proud of what we have achieved" during his nine years in Government, including "support for the NHS with record numbers of doctors and nurses, and of course the response to the pandemic: the first vaccine in the world, and a shorter lockdown, fewer jobs lost, and lower mortality than comparable countries."
Hancock went on to say that the Conservative Party "must now reconnect with the public we serve", seeming to reference his recent reality show stint as he talked about "new ways to reach people". He wrote: "There was a time when I thought the only way to influence the public debate was in Parliament, but I've realised there's far more to it than that."
The MP said that he has "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". He also mentioned his desire to push for more support for children with dyslexia, one of the main reasons he cited for going into the I'm A Celeb jungle.
Hancock finished the letter: "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."
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