Controversial former health secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed he will not run as a Conservative MP at the next general election. The former minister sparked a fierce row after it was announced he would be appearing on ITV's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here last month.
Mr Hancock, who took key decisions during the covid pandemic during his time as health secretary until resigning after a lockdown affair became public, had the whip removed as a Conservative MP as he entered the famous jungle in November. In a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Mr Hancock says he was soon expecting to be allowed to rejoin Conservative MPs in the House of Commons, weeks after finishing third in the final of I'm a Celebrity.
But the 44-year-old told Mr Sunak that is 'now not necessary' as he would not be running as a Conservative MP when the next general election takes place. Mr Hancock wrote: “I am writing to tell you that 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.
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“It has been a huge honour to serve as Member of Parliament for West Suffolk over the past twelve years. I am very proud of what we achieved, including the establishment of three Free Schools, dualling of the A11, supporting the horseracing industry, and expanding Newmarket Hospital. I will of course continue to represent all my constituents between now and the next election."
Mr Hancock added: "The Conservative Party must now reconnect with the public we serve. 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.
"I have increasingly come to believe that for a healthy democracy we must find new ways to reach people – especially those who are disengaged with politics. The revival of modern conservatism over the next decade will I suspect take place as much outside Parliament as in it."
Mr Hancock's appearance on the hit ITV show sparked uproar among critics who questioned the health secretary's judgement during the pandemic. More than 200,000 people died from the virus in the UK.
His role has also been questioned in the awarding of PPE contracts as well as his affair with now-girlfriend Gina Coladangelo during lockdown, which led to his resignation as health secretary in June 2021. Mr Hancock backed Mr Sunak for the role of Prime Minister earlier this year.
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