Local Tories in Matt Hancock’s constituency declared him “not fit” to be their MP in a scathing letter - days before he announced he will quit Parliament.
The suspended sheep-vagina-scoffing I’m a Celeb MP declared today he will not stand again in the next election, despite boasting he would have got the Tory whip back.
But a letter to the Tories’ Chief Whip from Terry Wood, President of the West Suffolk Conservatives, told a different story.
It said that in a meeting of the association’s officers a week ago, “a vote was taken that ruled that the Officer Group have no confidence in Matt Hancock as our sitting MP, and we would request that the Whip is not restored to him.”
The letter first obtained by i News added: “This vote was brought about following feedback from the constituents in West Suffolk, advising that by virtue of recent events, they consider Matt Hancock not fit to represent this constituency.”
A source close to Matt Hancock tonight insisted the local Tories’ letter was “irrelevant” to his decision to stand down at the next election.
The political ally added the letter was not on behalf of the entire association or its executive and therefore had no force. If a full vote had been taken, Mr Hancock would have won, they claimed.
There appear to be splits in the local association. West Suffolk Tory councillor Ian Houlder told the PA news agency that Mr Hancock had been "up the creek without a paddle".
But fellow councillor Lance Stanbury accused association President Mr Wood of having “no authority to send such a letter."
He added: "I'm a member of the executive of the West Suffolk association and no-one has approached any executive council members for their opinion.
"I also believe that this letter has not been produced with the agreement of the senior officers of the party.”
Lib Dem Daisy Cooper said Mr Hancock should stand down now and trigger a by-election - as he is “clearly not interested in the job any more and would rather make money on reality TV shows”.
"His constituents deserve better than a part-time MP chasing fame and fortune,” the Deputy Leader added.
"Instead of making a fool of himself for a living, he should be helping his constituents through a cost of living crisis.”
But a political ally of Mr Hancock said he would be staying as an MP until the next election even if it is only in 2024.
They added: "This letter is irrelevant. It hasn't been sent on behalf of the Association, and the chief whip told Matt he was going to get the whip back.
“Matt had already decided not to stand again when it came to light."
The ex-Health Secretary was stripped of the Tory whip last month after he abandoned his constituents to join ITV's I'm a Celebrity.
During his five-week absence from Parliament, Mr Hancock's team had insisted he had no intention of quitting politics.
But in a letter to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today, Mr Hancock said: "I am writing to tell you that I do not intend to stand for the Conservatives at the next general election."
Mr Hancock told the PM the Conservative Party "must now reconnect with the public we serve".
He added: "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.
"The revival of modern conservatism over the next decade will I suspect take place as much outside Parliament as in it.
"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."
