Former health secretary Matt Hancock
(Picture: PA)Matt Hancock is reportedly considering writing a book titled ‘How I Won The Covid War’ and people aren’t exactly rushing to Waterstones.
According to the Daily Mail,the former health secretary is said to be in talks with HarperCollins about the book, in which he would outline his “heroic” role in the pandemic, and he could even get an advance of around £100,000.
The publication reports he would lift the lid on conversations he had with aides, ministers, scientists and medics during the pandemic in the book. He would also hit back at Dominic Cummings who hasn’t exactly been his biggest advocate.
Speaking to the publication he said: “I have been approached to write a book, but no decisions have been made.”
A source added: “Matt paints a picture of a man burning the midnight oil night after night, staying cool under fire, saving the NHS and rising above petty Downing Street squabbles.
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“If you believe the book, the vaccine is all down to him for backing it against all odds, treating anti-vaxxers with contempt and winning over a sceptical public.”
He is said to want it published just before the official Covid inquiry starts in the spring, according to the publication. It is also expected that he would praise Boris Johnson in an effort to get back to the cabinet following his resignation this year over the Gina Coladangelo scandal.
Reacting to the news, people were horrified and accused the former health secretary of profiting from tragedy. They also noted his scandals - like breaking his own social distancing rules - which don’t exactly show him in a How I Won the Covid War light.
News that @HarperCollins are considering paying Matt Hancock £100K to write a book about how he was the hero of the pandemic has made me feel sick.
— Emma Kennedy💙 (@EmmaKennedy) November 13, 2021
Looking forward to the chapter where he discharges elderly people from hospital without COVID tests and sends them into care homes 👍
— Sirin Kale (@thedalstonyears) November 13, 2021
https://t.co/e9nXvLixMF
Matt Hancock sees himself as some sort action hero, doesn’t he? pic.twitter.com/9xrLDyk0Ho
— Simon Young (@iamsimonyoung) November 13, 2021
HOW I WON THE COVID WAR: Matt Hancock targets a £100,000 book deal to tell his 'heroic' story of being at the helm in pandemic (until he lost his job for breaking social distancing rules with his lover)
— Sandra Weeden (@SandraWeeden) November 13, 2021
🚨ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR THE TITLE? https://t.co/dHGE5BmpC7 pic.twitter.com/U2gcTzy6iv
And now Matt Hancock is set to write a book - 'How I Won The Covid War' - on his "heroic" role in the UK's vaccine campaign.
— Hardeep Matharu (@Hardeep_Matharu) November 13, 2021
Advance? £100,000.
https://t.co/xIQudfMC0K
I hope that there is not one single soul who will buy Matt Hancock’s book! He’s made enough money out of people’s tragedies already!
— Danielle (@DaniMcGeachie) November 13, 2021
Campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said:
“The fact that Matt Hancock thinks it’s appropriate for bereaved families to have to listen to his spin on their loved ones’ deaths, before the truth has come out via the inquiry, says it all about the attitude of the man who oversaw the ‘worst U.K. public health failure ever’.
The fact that Matt Hancock thinks it's appropriate for bereaved families to have to listen to his spin on their loved ones' deaths, before the truth has come out via the inquiry, says it all about the attitude of the man who oversaw the "worst U.K. public health failure ever" https://t.co/pRQYUeKt2J
— Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK (@CovidJusticeUK) November 13, 2021
While the Labour Party’s Angela Rayner called it “absolutely disgusting.”
“It is absolutely disgusting that Matt Hancock gets to put his spin on events - and his failures - for a bumper pay day before bereaved families get the truth about the government’s failures and mishandling of the pandemic in a public inquiry,” she said.
It is absolutely disgusting that @MattHancock gets to put his spin on events - and his failures - for a bumper pay day before bereaved families get the truth about the government’s failures and mishandling of the pandemic in a public inquiry. https://t.co/0OkdyLAbM1
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) November 12, 2021
Unsurprisingly, there were also some pretty good memes:
Matt Hancock 'considering £100,000 deal on book called How I Won the Covid War' pic.twitter.com/yKckjaYoZT
— trouteyes (@trouteyes) November 13, 2021
Just found the cover of Matt Hancock’s new book. pic.twitter.com/zJS10EfOnR
— @sirfrank (@sir_frankuk) November 13, 2021
Matt Hancock’s “How I won the covid war”#FoundInTheDumpster pic.twitter.com/69wpvsTS3g
— Peanut (@InquisitiveNut) November 13, 2021
The news also comes after Hancock landed - then unlanded - a job at the UN. He has also attempted comebacks by posting cringy viral videos and even getting involved with TikTok videos.
Whether comeback attempt 1000 or How I Won the Covid War sees the light of day remains to be seen.
