Matt Hancock 'plans series of serious documentaries' on assisted dying

2022-12-11

Matt Hancock ‘plans series of serious documentaries’ on assisted dying and dyslexia after he stands down from role as MP at next election

Matt Hancock is planning to make documentaries when he steps down as an MP
The former health secretary announced he would not stand in the next election
He plans to make ‘serious documentaries’ on assisted dying and dyslexia
It comes after his controversial appearance on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity last month

Matt Hancock is planning to make a series of ‘serious documentaries’ on issues from dyslexia to assisted dying, it has been reported.

The former health secretary is expected to make the programmes when he steps down as an MP at the next General Election.

It follows the politician’s controversial appearance last month on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity, leading his former allies to suggest he puts his public platform to good use, educating the public about political issues he worked on during his time in office.

Mr Hancock is understood to have received a number of offers from major broadcasters and could consider a new career as a documentary presenter, The Telegraph reports.

Matt Hancock is planning to make a series of ‘serious documentaries’ on issues from dyslexia to assisted dying when he steps down as MP for West Suffolk. The former health secretary announced last week he would not be standing in the next general election

Last week the MP for West Suffolk announced he would not be standing in the next election, just days after finishing third place in the ITV reality show. He also broke the news in a social media on TikTok.

Writing to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Mr Hancock said he had discovered a ‘whole new world of possibilities’ after escaping Westminster for a brief period and believes he can ‘influence the public debate’ away from Parliament.

He said his time in the jungle allowed him to re-think and find ‘new ways’ to ‘communicate with people of all ages and from all backgrounds’.

Sources close to Mr Hancock told The Telegraph that he decided he supported assisted dying over the pandemic when a colleague who was terminally ill wished to end their own life.

Mr Hancock came third on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get last month. Writing to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Mr Hancock said he had discovered a ‘whole new world of possibilities’ after escaping Westminster for a brief period

He previously had been against the practice, which is banned in the UK, but while he was serving in Boris Johnson’s cabinet he ordered a review of evidence on assisted dying.

Parliament’s health committee has since launched an inquiry into the issue, with findings expected to be published next year.

Historically MPs have been given a ‘free vote’ on assisting dying – meaning they do not have to vote with their party line – because it is consider a conscience issue.

The last vote to change the laws over assisted dying in the UK, which took place in 2015, was defeated by 300 votes to 118.

In his letter to the PM, Mr Hancock described how he wanted to ‘do things differently’ and to explore ‘new ways to communicate’ with the British public away from Westminster

The ex-Cabinet minister is reported to have been paid £400,000 for his appearance on I’m A Celebrity

Mr Hancock’s film-making plans come days after he was tipped to be taking on the dance floor and may sign for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.

His appearance in the jungle sparked outrage among politicians and constituents alike, with the leader of his local Conservative association stating he was ‘not fit’ to continue as the MP for West Suffolk.

Terry Wood, president of the West Suffolk Tories, wrote to Chief Whip Simon Hart asking for him to be reinstated as local members of the party had no confidence in him.

‘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,’ the letter read.

The ex-Cabinet minister is reported to have been paid £400,000 for his appearance on I’m A Celebrity

Ian Houlder, a local councillor in West Suffolk, said the former health secretary was ‘up the creek without a paddle as far as not being the MP for West Suffolk was concerned’.

It has reported that the former Cabinet member was paid £400,000 for his I’m A Celebrity appearance.

He has also declared a £45,000 fee after signing up to Channel 4 show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

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