Former health secretary Matt Hancock has announced he will step down as an MP at the next General Election.
The news follows the Conservation party member’s stint on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, something which was condemned by Tory leader Rishi Sunak. The 44-year-old, who was found to be breaking his own COVID-19 guidelines by having an affair, said it has been an “honour” to serve his constituents in West Suffolk over the past 12 years.
Announcing the news on TikTok, he said he would “play my part in the debate about the future of our country and engage with the public in new ways” outside the Commons.
In his letter to Rishi Sunak, he wrote: “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 for the education system. It has been an honour to serve in Parliament and represent the people of West Suffolk.”
Hancock was first elected as an MP for West Suffolk at the 2010 General Election. Prior to his time as Health Secretary, he served as Paymaster General and as Culture Minister.
