The former Health Secretary has announced he will no longer be an MP (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
Matt Hancock has announced he will be stepping down as an MP and not running in the next election.
The former Health Secretary has said he will be leaving a front line place in politics after coming third in ‘I’m a Celebrity’ last month.
The MP, who was found to be breaking his own Covid guidance by having an affair, said it has been an ‘honour’ to serve his constituents in West Suffolk over the past 12 years.
He had had the Conservative whip removed from him when it was revealed he was going into the jungle for the ITV reality show.
In a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Matt 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.
‘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.
Hancock announced he will not stand in a letter to the Prime Minister (Picture: Twitter)
Mr Hancock finished third in the jungle (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
He was subjected to a number of horrible trials on ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
He made headlines during the pandemic after breaking his own lockdown rules while having an affair with Gina Coladangelo (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
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‘I am incredibly proud of what we achieved in my nine years in Government: the massive expansion of Apprenticeships, the introduction of Traineeships, support for small and growing businesses, the digitisation of public services and starting to establish rules for the digital economy, restoring the nation’s finances, 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.
‘I am incredibly grateful for the loyal members of my team in Suffolk, in Parliament, in Government, and in the NHS who helped make all this possible.
‘I am proud to have supported you to become Prime Minister and wish you the best in facing the challenges ahead.
‘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.
He said he will still serve his constituents until the next election (Picture: REUTERS)
The former Health Secretary has announced he will not run as an MP in the next election (Picture: House of Commons)
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‘The revival of modern conservatism over the next decade will I suspect take place as much outside Parliament as in it.
‘For my part, I want to do things differently. 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.
‘I look forward to championing the issues that are dear to my heart, including better support for dyslexic children who get a raw deal from the education system.
‘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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The former Health Secretary was recently in the ‘I’m a Celebrity’ final.
