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Has Matt Hancock left
Matt Hancock’s decision to quit as MP has been a long time coming Hours after was declared Conservative leader, he arrived at the party’s headquarters in central London, where he was met by a crowd of beaming, cheering supporters. As he walked up the steps to the door, he stopped to shake hands and hug a waiting line of Tory MPs who had stood by his side throughout the summer leadership contest against Liz Truss and her disastrous early days in office.
There was a hug for John Glen, one of his team at the Treasury and a close ally, and another for Mel Stride, his friend and campaign manager. But he then walked straight past, his former cabinet colleague, without as much as a glance, before gripping the hand of the then Tory party chair Jake Berry.
The former health secretary, the only Tory MP at the front of the crowd not to be greeted directly, did not stop clapping during what appeared to be a very public snub, but the cameras did catch his briefly crestfallen expression before the grin reappeared. Matt Hancock says he will not stand for Conservatives at next election – video Was this the moment that Hancock, who had twice backed Sunak to become prime minister, realised that his career in frontline politics was over? Six weeks later, after his foray into reality TV with I’m A Celebrity he announced that he would be,
- His decision, which immediately sparked a row over whether he jumped before he was pushed by his local association, underlined the dramatic decline in political fortunes of a man once regarded in Tory circles as a future leader.
- Hancock, who entered parliament in 2010 after working as George Osborne’s chief-of-staff in opposition, quickly rose through the ministerial ranks to the post of culture secretary, where he attracted ridicule and concern after setting up the, his first attempt at communicating with the public in a different way.
Theresa May and Boris Johnson retained him after receiving his endorsement for Tory leader. It was in that role, during the dark days of the Covid pandemic, that he became a household name, and – his allies claim – a lightning rod for public anger over the government’s handling of the crisis.
- His time in the job came to a dramatic and very public end in June 2021 after pictures of him in his Whitehall office in breach of government guidelines were splashed across the front page of the Sun newspaper.
- Despite Johnson accepting his initial apology, he quit the next day and told his wife of 15 years their marriage was over.
Hancock has since been focused on rehabilitation. As news of his broke last month, the West Suffolk MP was already halfway round the globe on his way to the Australian jungle. Sunak said how disappointed he was that Hancock had decided to be away from his constituents and stripped him of the Tory whip, but the MP’s spokesman defended the move, saying he would use the platform to talk about dyslexia and other issues he cared about to millions of people.
- One friend and political colleague of Hancock in Suffolk said they believed he had decided to enter the show as an attempt to escape the public perception of him shaped by Covid, describing him as “being an outlet for their anger and their grief”.
- They added: “The abuse he was getting was so dreadful, I suspect he thought: it’s time to do something.
I was really worried when the programme started. It could have broken him. But over time, I could see the abuse just get less and less.” As he arrived in the jungle, Hancock appeared to acknowledge that his career in frontline politics was over, telling his campmates that “survival in the jungle is a good metaphor for the world I work in”.
He said he wanted to “show what I am like as a person”, before adding that he did not expect to work in government again. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties.
For more information see our, We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google and apply. after newsletter promotion Despite the public vitriol directed at him, he came third in the celebrity contest behind the footballer Jill Scott and the Hollyoaks star Owen Warner.
He attracted some criticism, however, for only managing to mention dyslexia twice during his three-week stint. On his return to Westminster, one source close to Hancock said he intended to stay in politics, but there were questions over whether he would be able to stand as a Tory at the next general election when he was currently an independent MP, meaning he was unable to confirm he would stay on by the 5 December deadline.
Hancock is just one of a handful of MPs – including his successor as health secretary, Sajid Javid – who have decided they will stand down, indicating that they may have seen the writing on the wall for Sunak’s government at the next general election, expected to be in autumn 2024.
As he reflects on what to do next, Hancock now has a more positive public profile – although that could all change with the official Covid inquiry – and a substantial amount of cash in the bank after he was reported to have been paid £400,000 to appear on the ITV show. Friends say he has no plans to do any more reality shows.
One ally said: “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. While Matt’s time in the jungle was a success, he won’t be doing any more reality TV.” Hancock remains as an MP until the next election, so his time at Westminster is not yet over, but even the announcement of his departure appears to have given him a new sense of liberation.
After announcing on Wednesday that he planned to step down, he posted a video to his 116,000 TikTok followers of him singing the Queen song I Want To Break Free to his I’m a Celeb campmates. Fellow contestant Seann Walsh, a comedian, tells the camera: “I think Matt is trying to tell us something. Be free, Matt.” At the bottom of Hancock’s video are the words “mission accomplished”.
: Matt Hancock’s decision to quit as MP has been a long time coming
Is Matt Hancock going on I Am a Celebrity
Matt Hancock through to final on I’m A Celebrity Former health secretary has reached Sunday’s final of I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! along with actor Owen Warner and footballer Jill Scott after Mike Tindall was eliminated.
- The former England rugby player, who is married to King Charles III’s niece, Zara Tindall, received the fewest votes from the public, ending his stint on the ITV reality programme.
- Mike Tindall said afterwards he wanted former England player Scott to win.
- It means Hancock could unexpectedly win the show and be crowned king of the jungle on Sunday night.
- His decision to appear had been criticised by MPs and the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, who said he was “very disappointed” in the former health secretary.
- Earlier this month, Dr Cathy Gardner – a bereaved daughter who won a high court ruling that Hancock’s policy on care home discharges at the start of the Covid pandemic was unlawful – said the producers’ decision to cast him and pay him a substantial fee was “two fingers to those of us who are bereaved, because they just don’t seem to care about how significant he was”.
- The Conservative MP joined the show on 9 November and his resignation as health secretary last year for breaking coronavirus social distancing rules has been a primary topic of conversation.
- He acknowledged to campmates in the Australian jungle there was “no excuse” for the actions that led to his resignation in June 2021 after being photographed kissing a colleague, Gina Coladangelo, in his ministerial office during the pandemic but insisted he “fell in love”.
- The following day Hancock said on the programme that he for breaking social distancing rules after one of his fellow reality show contestants, Loose Women presenter Charlene White, criticised his behaviour.
- He was named camp leader after facing his fifth consecutive bushtucker trial.
- The MP said being voted leader of the I’m a Celebrity campsite “more than makes up for”,
- Earlier this week, it was ruled that Hancock by not consulting the watchdog before appearing on the show, the chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments said.
- However, it was recommended that no further action should be taken.
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- Hancock, who after it was announced he would be appearing on the ITV programme, is still being paid as an independent MP and is rumoured to have been paid £400,000 to appear on the programme.
- But the former health secretary could be stopped from standing as a Conservative MP in the next general election if he does not regain the Tory whip soon.
- Conservative MPs have until 5 December to tell party HQ whether they want to stand again.
- Unless the whip is restored before then, Hancock will remain as an independent MP and his West Suffolk constituency association would have to select a new candidate.
: Matt Hancock through to final on I’m A Celebrity
Who are Matt Hancock’s wives
Martha Hancock all smiles as husband enjoys romantic fling with lover Published: 18:30 BST, 2 September 2021 | Updated: 18:35 BST, 2 September 2021
- A smiley Martha Hancock has been spotted in while her husband of 15 years whisked his lover Gina Coladangelo away for a romantic summer break in the Swiss Alps.
- The 44-year-old wife of disgraced former Health Secretary was pictured in north London earlier today during the school run and appeared to be in good spirits.
- Meanwhile, more than 600 miles away in the snowy Swiss Alps, Mr Hancock and former aide Miss Coladangelo were seen in the posh ski resort of Villars, after being caught in a steamy clinch in his office on CCTV in June.
- The pair, who have continued dating since their affair was exposed, have been staying at The Villars Mountain Lodge, described on the hotel’s website as ‘resolutely modern and at the same time delightfully authentic’.
- Boasting hot showers, a bar and diner, ‘cozy beds, ultra-soft pillows and soundproof rooms’, £87-a-night hotel is located in Villars-sur-Ollon.
Martha Hancock, 44, appeared to be in good spirits as she was pictured in north London on Thursday Former health secretary Matt Hancock has been enjoying a romantic break in the Swiss Alps with his lover Gina Coladangelo Boasting hot showers, a bar (pictured) and diner, the hotel is located in Villars-sur-Ollon, a village a short drive from the popular resort town of Montreux and around a 90 minute drive from Geneva With views of the famous Mont Blanc, the village, known for its prestigious and eye-wateringly expensive boarding schools, is part of the wider ski-resort of Villars – a favourite with royalty.
- The Hancocks – who met while they were both students at Oxford University – had split their time between London and West Suffolk, the constituency he represents.
- They married in 2006 and lived with their daughter, 14, and two sons, 13 and eight, in London and West Suffolk.
- The latest scenes come after Mr Hancock announced this week that he would be running the London Marathon next month to raise funds for a hospice.
- The sighting comes just months after Mr Hancock was forced to quit the Cabinet when CCTV from his Whitehall office was leaked of him kissing his married aide Miss Coladangelo in breach of Covid social-distancing guidance.
- Mr Hancock’s kiss with Miss Coladangelo, a mother-of-three whose husband Oliver Tress is the founder of clothing shop Oliver Bonas, is alleged to have taken place on May 6 this year.
- After the footage emerged, Mr Hancock confirmed his resignation and said he wanted to ‘reiterate his apology for breaking the guidance’.
- He said: ‘The last thing I would want is for my private life to distract attention from the single-minded focus that is leading us out of this crisis.
‘I want to reiterate my apology for breaking the guidance, and apologise to my family and loved ones for putting them through this. I also need (to) be with my children at this time.’ Mr Hancock stepped down from his Cabinet role in June after CCTV footage was leaked of him breaching Covid social distancing rules by kissing his aide, Gina Coladangelo.
- In the wake of the scandal, Mr Hancock reportedly told his wife Martha, who he married in 2006, that their marriage was over and announced he would be spending time away from the spotlight to focus on his three children.
- And earlier in the summer, he was seen moving boxes, suitcases and clothes out of his marital home in London.
- New images appear to show the new couple enjoying their first romantic getaway together since their affair cost the pair their jobs, and Mr Hancock his cabinet role.
Last night, pictures emerged showing the loved up pair heading out for dinner with friends. Mr Hancock wore a baseball cap, sunglasses and a face mask while Miss Coladangelo dressed casually in denim.
- The couple drove to the resort from the UK for what is thought to be their first holiday abroad together since their relationship was revealed in June, reports.
- It was Mr Hancock’s second holiday in as many weeks after he was spotted hitting the surf in Cornwall with his children last month.
- Mystery surrounds the recruitment of Miss Coladangelo, who met Mr Hancock while volunteering at the student radio station at Oxford University in the 1990s.
- She worked on Mr Hancock’s failed Tory leadership campaign in 2019 and was secretly taken on as an unpaid adviser at the Department of Health last year before being made a non-executive director on a £15,000 contract.
This year a Tory source said the pair had become inseparable, adding: ‘They always appeared to be incredibly close. Her status was always slightly mysterious but she went everywhere with him. She was in every meeting.’
- Friends insisted the extramarital affair only began in May, the same month that Mr Hancock and Miss Coladangelo were caught in the incriminating footage.
- But others said the pair, who have known each other since university days when they met at Oxford, have raised eyebrows for some time.
- Miss Coladangelo was allegedly confronted as long ago as 2019 by ministerial aides who asked outright if there was any romance between the pair, something the twice-married mother-of-three flatly denied.
Mystery surrounds the recruitment of Miss Coladangelo, who met Mr Hancock while volunteering at the student radio station at Oxford University in the 1990s. She worked on Mr Hancock’s failed Tory leadership campaign in 2019 and was secretly taken on as an unpaid adviser at the Department of Health last year before being made a non-executive director on a £15,000 contract.
How did Matt Hancock’s wife find out?
Despite serving as Health Secretary during the pandemic, Matt Hancock is also known for the affair that involved him breaching his own lockdown rules and led to his resignation. Leaked footage of him embracing aide Gina Colandangelo in May 2021 also led to the breakdown of his marriage.
At the time, the politician – who is currently appearing on I’m A Celebrity -was telling the public to stay away from each other to stop the spread of coronavirus. But at the same time, Matt, 44, was recorded kissing Gina, 45, in his office. The MP’s wife Martha, with whom he shares three children, reportedly had no idea the affair was going on.
Gina was also married at the time, to multi-millionaire founder of Oliver Bonas, Oliver Tress. READ MORE: Miriam Margolyes slams ‘detestable’ Matt Hancock over I’m A Celebrity Matt and Gina met when he covered sport on Oxford University’s radio station in the late 1990s, while she read the news.
It was also at Oxford that Matt met Martha. They were married for 15 years, in what she is said to have believed was a “happy and stable” union. The two couples were reported to be so close that they celebrated Christmas parties together. Matt hired Gina, a PR expert, as a non-executive director at the Department of Health, with an annual allowance of £15,000.
But after they started working together, their friendship ended up turning into something more, as Matt explained in a February 2022 interview. He told the Diary of a CEO podcast: ” I’ve known Gina for more than half of my life. And we first actually worked together on student radio back in the Oxford days.
A nd so we spent a lot of time together, ironically, trying to get me to be able to communicate in a more emotionally intelligent way. “And we fell in love. And that’s something that was completely outside of my control. And of course, I regret the pain that that’s caused and the very, very, very public nature.
Anybody who’s been through this knows how difficult it is, how painful it is doing that in public is incredibly painful, but I fell in love with someone.” Matt’s wife Martha has been praised for being ‘incredibly dignified’ since her husband’s affair was exposed (Image: PA Media) The politician suggested that they had intended to find as “unpainful” a way possible to separate from their partners, but said that the images caused a “huge amount of pain”.
But he added that falling in love with Gina was “easy” and that their ongoing relationship was “joyous”. ” Anybody knows how difficult it is ending a relationship, and we have six children. It’s tough. But Gina and I love each other very deeply,” he continued. ” Seven, eight months later. It gets a bit easier with time.
I don’t hold it against anybody because I take responsibility. “We’ve been through a lot together. That’s the joyous bit. That’s the easy bit. There’s a lot of very difficult things that I have to deal with. And having fallen in love with Gina, that’s the easy bit.” Despite Matt’s hopes of having an “unpainful” breakup with Martha, she ended up finding out in a very sudden way.
The MP was warned that the pictures were about to be published, and so reportedly rushed home to break the news of his infidelity to his wife, who apparently had no idea her husband had eyes for anyone else. He is then believed to have woken their youngest child, aged eight, to say he was leaving. Martha was suffering from long Covid at the time, after contracting the illness from her husband, and she refused to be drawn publicly.
A source told the Sun on Sunday: ” Martha has behaved in an incredibly dignified way. The poor woman has been publicly humiliated by her husband’s behaviour yet she has faced the cameras looking a model of composure. ” She has every reasons to feel aggrieved by what’s happened but she has risen above it all.
Leicester’s Owen Warner will challenge Matt Hancock over Covid failings, says brother Mike Tindall ‘under investigation’ over breaching I’m A Celeb rules David Walliams leaked making derogatory remarks about BGT contestants Bob Mortimer health update after being forced to give up hobby Seann Walsh’s ex-girlfriend who wrote a book about his Strictly Katya Jones cheating
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Who met Matt Hancock when he left the jungle
Matt Hancock ‘s girlfriend Gina Coladangelo was tearful ahead of his exit from the I’m A Celebrity. Get Me Out of Here! jungle, new footage has revealed. The disgraced former health secretary was a shock finalist in the ITV reality show, finishing third after controversially entering the jungle last month.
In the post-series Coming Out Show special aired on ITV last night (December 1), Gina was seen getting emotional after hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly told her the result. The West Suffolk MP placed behind former England footballer Jill Scott – the new Queen of the Jungle – and Hollyoaks star Owen Warner during the series finale last Sunday (November 27), after claiming 21.7% of the initial public vote.
The behind the scenes footage showed Gina saying: “I’m so proud of him. I’m so proud of him” as she got in a car to take her to the ITV set, reports The Mirror, The couple then embraced at the famous I’m A Celebrity bridge, where Gina was waiting for Matt to come out of the jungle campsite.
READ MORE: I’m A Celeb’s Matt Hancock flies back to UK after ‘abandoning’ girlfriend Gina at airport Matt told her: “You look amazing. I love you so much.” He added: “I’m so sorry it’s been this long.” Gina replied: “It’s been awful” as Matt assured her: “It’s going to be great from here on in.” But Gina retorted: “You don’t know what lies ahead.” After their reunion, they are also seen during the Coming Out Show attending a wrap party.
While driving to the production site, Matt is asked her: “Of course I’m curious to how it’s gone, was I authentically me?” Matt Hancock was met on the bridge by his girlfriend Gina as he finished in third place (Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock) Gina replied: “It took a few days I felt for you to relax.” Matt added: “When I was being grilled in the early days, I felt like people were asking me on behalf of the British public.
- I knew going in it would be controversial but I also know millions of people have voted for me.” Much to Gina’s embarrassment, Matt also sang along to an Ed Sheeran song during the drive.
- In another scene of the episode, Gina said: “I think it’s fair to say that Matt underestimated the scale of the reaction to him coming into the jungle.
“He’s made of tough stuff, this summer we trekked around Mont Blanc together in four days. My last words to him were just be yourself, be the Matt I know and it’ll go really well.” The MP was in the ITV jungle for three weeks after being a late addition to the camp alongside Seann Walsh – with his arrival stunning the other celebrities.
- He endured a series of Bushtucker Trials after joining the camp.
- Matt’s appearance of the show has been controversial and drawn criticism from across the political spectrum and from the public.
- Since leaving the jungle, he has faced calls to resign as an MP having already been suspended from the Conservative Party for appearing on the show.
He played a key role in the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and resigned as health secretary after he was caught having an extramarital affair with Gina, who was then his aide, while also breaching social distancing rules in his parliamentary office.
Matt Hancock faces demands he resign as MP following I’m A Celeb stint ITV I’m A Celebrity ‘feud’ spotted as campmates absent in farewell snap ITV I’m A Celebrity. Mike Tindall and Seann Walsh comments spark theory show was pre-recorded ITV I’m A Celebrity viewers spot Ant and Dec’s ‘relief’ as Matt Hancock finishes third I’m a Celebrity. Charlene White feared she would lose job because of Matt Hancock
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Who is the new person in I’m a celebrity?
Olivia Attwood – Withdrew on Day 2 – Update: Olivia was forced to withdraw from the series on Day 2 for medical reasons, with Olivia later confirming that routine blood tests revealed she was anameic, and it was deemed unsafe for her to return to camp.
Who quits the jungle?
Charlene White – Charlene White was the first celebrity to be eliminated from the 2022 season. Unfortunately, the Loose Woman received the fewest votes from the public, putting an end to her I’m a Celebrity journey. Her exit comes after White took on the latest Bushtucker Trial, Watery Grave, along with Hancock.
- Following her exit, Charlene revealed the first things she’s going to do now she’s no longer in the jungle.
- The person I’m going to call now that I’m out of the camp is Andy so I can catch up with him to see how the kids are doing because I miss them hugely,” she said.
- On her first meal out of the show, she added: “Probably anything packed with carbs.
So, probably bread and butter, toast, chips – just something that’s massively carbtastic because I’ve missed it.” I’m a Celebrity. Get Me Out of Here! continues on ITV tonight at 9pm. Find something to watch with our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Entertainment hub for all the latest news.
What episode of I’m a celeb is Matt Hancock in
Matt Hancock squeals as he is showered with sludge on I’m a Celebrity debut In the run-up to Matt Hancock’s appearance on I’m a Celebrity, it was widely speculated that he would be subjected to all the most gruesome challenges. In that respect, his first episode did not fail to deliver.
- The hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – and probably much of the nation – could barely contain their delight as the former health secretary was forced to crawl through tiny, dark tunnels where he was showered with bugs and sludge.
- Hancock made his debut on the show in its fourth episode, which aired on Wednesday night, alongside the comedian Seann Walsh.
The pair went straight into their first trial, named Beastly Burrows, which involved feeling their way through dark, muddy tunnels and feeling around for the stars that represent achievement in the trials. Notable moments include Hancock squealing while insects and thick liquid were poured on him from above.
He provided ample comic opportunity for his comedian campmate, asking him: “Which way do you want me to go?” prompting Walsh to respond: “I’m not a satnav, I don’t know!” Hancock’s inclusion is seen as an attempt by the producers to buoy ratings, which have been flagging in recent seasons. The launch episode – which aired on Sunday after Hancock’s participation was announced – drew an average of 9 million viewers, with a peak of more than 10 million at one point, an increase on last year’s 10-year low of 8 million.
Viewers were surprised not to see Hancock in the launch, as he had landed in Australia on 1 November. McPartlin and Donnelly hinted that he would join soon, confirming that they would shortly be “rolling out the welcome mat” for new arrivals. Matt Hancock during the Beastly Burrows challenge. Photograph: ITV/Rex/Shutterstock Both Walsh, 36, and Hancock, 44, have sought to rehabilitate their images after kissing scandals. Hancock resigned as health secretary for breaking Covid rules by having an affair with his aide, while Walsh was pictured kissing his dance partner on Strictly, prompting his partner at the time to accuse him of emotional abuse.
- Hancock’s decision to join the show was met with widespread criticism from parliamentary colleagues as he is a serving MP and will be away from his for its duration, although the producers will allow him to communicate with them and he will hold catchup surgeries upon his return.
- He had the and the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, expressed his “disappointment”.
- Hancock had his phone removed by the producers after landing in Australia and may not be fully aware of the scale of backlash.
- Speaking before his debut on the show, Hancock, saying it ws driven by looking for “different ways to communicate with the public”, especially young people.
- In a letter to constituents in which he acknowledged their “concerns”, he said he did not “expect to serve in government again” and that he could support Sunak “in other ways” as there were “many ways to do the job of being an MP”.
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After newsletter promotion He plans to use the platform to raise the profile of his dyslexia screening bill, which aims to help children receive diagnoses earlier, and will donate part of his fee from the show to causes including the British Dyslexia Association. Hancock has expressed fears about running into snakes in the jungle, but not about other challenges.
“I have never come across a snake at close quarters and so I am pretty worried about anything to do with snakes. I am not claustrophobic, or at least I haven’t been found to be, but that’s the thing about I’m a Celebrity – it is the unknown,” he said.
- Addressing whether he thought his colleagues in parliament and the British public would be voting for him to do trials, he said he “wouldn’t be surprised”.
- The shadow business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, told Sky News that Hancock’s appearance on the show “demeans politics and the job that we do”, but confessed that he would tune in to see how his parliamentary colleague was progressing.
- Asked whether he would vote for Hancock to eat crocodile anus during the trials, Reynolds replied: “I think there will be a landslide across the country for Matt being volunteered for that kind of thing.”
I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! continues on Thursday at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub.
: Matt Hancock squeals as he is showered with sludge on I’m a Celebrity debut