News
Liam O'Dell
Oct 16, 2021
Things are really not going well for Matt Hancock. He had to step down from his role as health secretary in June after video footage surfaced of him kissing his aide while social distancing measures were in place, and then there was the comeback video where he was seen fist-bumping constituents â in scenes compared to the parody character Alan Partridge.
Now, the West Suffolk MP has reportedly lost another job â this time as the special representative on financial innovation and climate change for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
His rather lengthy and new position â which was to be unpaid - was announced by the former cabinet minister on Tuesday, when he wrote on Twitter that he was âhonouredâ to accept the role working âto help African economy recovery from the pandemic and promote sustainable developmentâ.
A letter from the under-secretary general of the UN, and executive secretary of the ECA, Vera Songwe, was also shared by Hancock but at the time of the announcement, people were unsure whether he was fit for the role.
âYour success on the United Kingdomâs response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the acceleration of vaccines that has led the UK move faster towards economic recovery is one testament to the strengths that you will bring to this role, together with your fiscal and monetary experience,â it read.
However, the job offer appears to have been short-lived, as PassBlue reported on Friday that the UN had decided not to go ahead with giving him the role. The Telegraph said they understood Hancock was told by the United Nations that it cannot appoint sitting MPs to be special representatives, and that it was forced to rescind the appointment.
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The apparent decision comes after the Commons Health and Social Care and Science and Technology Committees published its report into the âlessons learnedâ from the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, which criticised a test and trace programme that âtook too long to become effectiveâ.
Yet, in a statement to PassBlue, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said: âMr Hancockâs appointment by the UN Economic Commission for Africa is not being taken forward. ECA has advised him of the matter.â
In a statement to LBC Hancock added: âI was honoured to be approached by the UN and appointed as special representative to the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), to help drive forward an agenda of strengthening markets and bringing investment to Africa.
âThe UN have written to me to explain that a technical UN rule has subsequently come to light which states that sitting members of parliament cannot also be UN special representatives.
âSince I am committed to continuing to serve as MP for West Suffolk, this means I cannot take up the position.
Of course, Twitter has been unforgiving after the news broke on Saturday:
Doh! Another triumph from Matt the Muppet⦠https://t.co/0z2QFp6T3Mâ Mike Graham ð¬ð§ (@Mike Graham ð¬ð§) 1634380823
@pass_blue @MattHancock @GlobalJusticeUK @UKParliament Maybe the World is beginning to right itself after allâ¦â Alan Harrison ð (@Alan Harrison ð) 1634381149
@pass_blue https://t.co/KHZISB10Mdâ CJ Gibson (@CJ Gibson) 1634373938
Curb Your Enthusiasm music plays https://t.co/fkbaq0PLKyâ Ian Ford (@Ian Ford) 1634382699
@PoliticsForAlI https://t.co/UVcb2QPVWbâ Ash* (@Ash*) 1634378529
@PoliticsForAlI https://t.co/jWcFQK8CTOâ Vincent O'Brien (@Vincent O'Brien) 1634378514
@PoliticsForAlI https://t.co/IUrIOqlTPEâ Jack Bailey (@Jack Bailey) 1634378445
@PoliticsForAlI I'm laugh crying about this. https://t.co/QpUPtMvayjâ B Bee ððð° (@B Bee ððð°) 1634379200
@PoliticsForAlI They realised who he was.â Dash Decent (@Dash Decent) 1634378770
Having a bad day? Well Matt Hancock he been sacked even before starting his new job. There you go. Thatâs cheered you up.â The PM of the UK is a LIAR #FBPE #FBPPR (@The PM of the UK is a LIAR #FBPE #FBPPR) 1634380275
As Matt Hancock has been told he can't do that job at the UN, I think people need to rally round and think of jobs⦠https://t.co/NPXG8vTksKâ Michael Rosen ðððð (@Michael Rosen ðððð) 1634390655
The United Nations has brutally dumped Matt Hancock. A bit like the way he brutally dumped his loyal wife Martha. Life comes at you fastâ¦â Dan Wootton (@Dan Wootton) 1634379090
Matt Hancock finding out the UN donât want him to be an envoy to Africa after all https://t.co/r91LLTOPkiâ dave âï¸ ð¥ 𧻠(@dave âï¸ ð¥ ð§») 1634381936
Its wrong to revel in someone's misfortune but to revel in the fact that the UN don't want Matt Hancock is perfectly acceptable ð¥³ð¥³ð¥³â Kercle ð (@Kercle ð) 1634383306
if youâre wondering what that distant noise is itâs the entirety of Africa celebrating Matt Hancock not being made their UN envoyâ dave âï¸ ð¥ 𧻠(@dave âï¸ ð¥ ð§») 1634383459
The UK government gave Matt Hancock a job at the UN without checking with the UN.â Sarah Hurst (@Sarah Hurst) 1634379023
I see the UN is socially distancing itself from Matt Hancock.â Mr Ethical (@Mr Ethical) 1634381914
Can someone give Matt Hancock a bell and tell him there are job opportunities in HGV driving and butchery, I reckon⦠https://t.co/2DYFwTpVrNâ sue#NHSLoveððð#FBNHS (@sue#NHSLoveððð#FBNHS) 1634392638
Indy100 has reached out to Mr Hancock and the UN for comment.
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