Things are really not going well for Matt Hancock. He had to step down from his role as health secretary in June after video footage surfaced of him kissing his aide while social distancing measures were in place, and then there was the comeback video where he was seen fist-bumping constituents – in scenes compared to the parody character Alan Partridge.
Now, the West Suffolk MP has reportedly lost another job – this time as the special representative on financial innovation and climate change for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
His rather lengthy and new position – which was to be unpaid - was announced by the former cabinet minister on Tuesday, when he wrote on Twitter that he was “honoured” to accept the role working “to help African economy recovery from the pandemic and promote sustainable development”.
A letter from the under-secretary general of the UN, and executive secretary of the ECA, Vera Songwe, was also shared by Hancock but at the time of the announcement, people were unsure whether he was fit for the role.
“Your success on the United Kingdom’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the acceleration of vaccines that has led the UK move faster towards economic recovery is one testament to the strengths that you will bring to this role, together with your fiscal and monetary experience,” it read.
However, the job offer appears to have been short-lived, as PassBlue reported on Friday that the UN had decided not to go ahead with giving him the role. The Telegraph said they understood Hancock was told by the United Nations that it cannot appoint sitting MPs to be special representatives, and that it was forced to rescind the appointment.
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The apparent decision comes after the Commons Health and Social Care and Science and Technology Committees published its report into the “lessons learned” from the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, which criticised a test and trace programme that “took too long to become effective”.
Yet, in a statement to PassBlue, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said: “Mr Hancock’s appointment by the UN Economic Commission for Africa is not being taken forward. ECA has advised him of the matter.”
In a statement to LBC Hancock added: “I was honoured to be approached by the UN and appointed as special representative to the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), to help drive forward an agenda of strengthening markets and bringing investment to Africa.
“The UN have written to me to explain that a technical UN rule has subsequently come to light which states that sitting members of parliament cannot also be UN special representatives.
“Since I am committed to continuing to serve as MP for West Suffolk, this means I cannot take up the position.
Of course, Twitter has been unforgiving after the news broke on Saturday:
Doh! Another triumph from Matt the Muppet… https://t.co/0z2QFp6T3M
— Mike Graham 🇬🇧 (@Iromg) October 16, 2021
Maybe the World is beginning to right itself after all…
— Alan Harrison 💙 (@harrison_alan) October 16, 2021
— CJ Gibson (@Shampoopypants) October 16, 2021
Curb Your Enthusiasm music plays pic.twitter.com/fkbaq0PLKy
— Ian Ford (@ij_ford) October 16, 2021
— Ash* (@_ARose__) October 16, 2021
— Vincent O'Brien (@MincentBrown) October 16, 2021
— Jack Bailey (@JackBailey2) October 16, 2021
Finally some good news
— New Monkey Nationalism (@moonmansun1) October 16, 2021
I'm laugh crying about this. pic.twitter.com/QpUPtMvayj
— B Bee 🐝💙🐰 (@Betsy_Beeee) October 16, 2021
They realised who he was.
— Dash Decent (@DashDecent) October 16, 2021
It would appear that Matt Hancock has been sacked by the UN before he could save Africa because the covid report found that he didn’t save the U.K. https://t.co/UBCVE3K2g8
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) October 16, 2021
Having a bad day?
— The PM of the UK is a LIAR #FBPE #FBPPR (@EdBish18) October 16, 2021
Well Matt Hancock he been sacked even before starting his new job.
There you go. That’s cheered you up.
As Matt Hancock has been told he can't do that job at the UN, I think people need to rally round and think of jobs that Matt Hancock could do. Please come up with suggestions..
— Michael Rosen 💙💙🎓🎓 (@MichaelRosenYes) October 16, 2021
The United Nations has brutally dumped Matt Hancock.
— Dan Wootton (@danwootton) October 16, 2021
A bit like the way he brutally dumped his loyal wife Martha.
Life comes at you fast…
Matt Hancock finding out the UN don’t want him to be an envoy to Africa after all pic.twitter.com/r91LLTOPki
— dave ❄️ 🥕 🧻 (@davemacladd) October 16, 2021
Its wrong to revel in someone's misfortune but to revel in the fact that the UN don't want Matt Hancock is perfectly acceptable 🥳🥳🥳
— Kercle 💙 (@kercle) October 16, 2021
if you’re wondering what that distant noise is it’s the entirety of Africa celebrating Matt Hancock not being made their UN envoy
— dave ❄️ 🥕 🧻 (@davemacladd) October 16, 2021
The UK government gave Matt Hancock a job at the UN without checking with the UN.
— Sarah Hurst (@Life_Disrupted) October 16, 2021
I see the UN is socially distancing itself from Matt Hancock.
— Mr Ethical (@nw_nicholas) October 16, 2021
Can someone give Matt Hancock a bell and tell him there are job opportunities in HGV driving and butchery, I reckon he'd be very good at butchery
— sue#NHSLove💙💙💙#FBNHS (@SueSuezep) October 16, 2021
Indy100 has reached out to Mr Hancock and the UN for comment.
