Minister offers up Toon shirt for auction
HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has auctioned his own Newcastle United shirt to help make scrubs for NHS workers.
On Friday, Radio DJ Chris Evans held an online auction to raise money for Scrubs Glorious Scrubs, a voluntary sewing collaborative making non-surgical scrubs for NHS workers.
Celebrities including Ant and Dec and Rod Stewart took part, donating personal items for fans to bid on. The auction, run by BIN-IN Auctions, which is helping charities with fundraising during Covid-19, raised almost £600,000.
And Mr Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, decided to join in, offering up his own much-loved piece of Newcastle United memorabilia.
As Health Secretary, Mr Hancock has been criticised over recent weeks for issues around the supply of protective equipment for NHS workers, and last month faced calls to resign after suggesting that doctors and nurses might be overusing vital protective equipment.
Now the minister, who holds overall financial control of the health service and oversight of all NHS delivery, has helped raise a total of £1,850 through the online sale of the shirt.
In the description of the lot, Mr Hancock called the shirt “my pride and joy”.
He said: “This shirt was gifted to me by Uncle Dave. It was because of him that I am now a lifelong supporter and fan of Newcastle United.
“Signed by the team. The top as seen hanging behind me on the bookshelf during many of my Skype interviews – I will sign it for you also if you like.”
It’s not known if the winning bidder took Mr Hancock up on his offer to add his own John Hancock.