‘Unfit to be MP’: Hancock to quit seat at election after jungle foray

Former health secretary says he wants to ‘engage with public in new ways’ away from Parliament

‘I have discovered a whole new world of possibilities which I am excited to explore’

MATT HANCOCK has announced he will stand down at the next election after the head of his local Tory association said he is “not fit” to be its MP.

The 44-year-old caused outrage and was stripped of the Conservative whip for appearing on ITV’S I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

He revealed his plan to step aside in a letter to Rishi Sunak after allies had been insisting for weeks that he would contest his West Suffolk seat.

Just moments later, remarks emerged from his constituency association chief expressing “no confidence” in him as the sitting MP.

Mr Hancock said in yesterday’s letter to the Prime Minister he would play his part in the debate about the future of our country and “engage with the public in new ways” outside the Commons.

“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,” he said.

“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. 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.”

A political ally of the former health secretary said he “won’t be doing any more reality TV” despite viewing his time in the Australian jungle as “a success”.

“There are lots of irons in the fire, but Matt will now look to use his public profile to highlight the serious issues he cares about such as dyslexia,” they said.

Mr Hancock reportedly received a £400,000 fee for appearing on I’m A Celebrity… and has said he will give at least part of that to a hospice and other charities.

He has also taken part in another reality show, Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, for which he pocketed £45,000 according to his register of financial interests.

Terry Wood, president of the West Suffolk Conservatives, said the officers of the association passed a no-confidence vote in their MP on Nov 30.

He told Simon Hart, the Chief Whip, that they had concluded he was “not fit to represent this constituency” and should not be reinstated.

Ian Houlder, a local Tory councillor, said Mr Hancock’s political career was “up the creek without a paddle” so he had “gone for the money”.

“He’s going to linger on until the next general election whenever that’s called, probably a couple of years if Rishi lasts that long, and that’s it,” he said.

“He’ll take his goodbye money, his pension and his salary up to that date. Then he’ll go off and do what he says he wants to do in his letter.”

Lance Stanbury, another Tory councillor, said: “Given there was no likelihood of him being back in the Government, I believe that he’s made a decision that’s right for him.”

But he disputed the claim that the association had expressed no confidence in Mr Hancock and said the remarks by Mr Wood were unauthorised.

An ally of Mr Hancock said the association’s letter was “irrelevant” and that “Matt had already decided not to stand again when it came to light”.

Mr Hancock became an MP in 2010 and was forced to resign from the Cabinet last year after his lockdown rulebreaking affair with aide Gina Colangelo was exposed.