Matt Hancock and the Covid inquiry: The story so far

Matt Hancock served as Health Secretary between 2018 and 2021

Former health secretary Matt Hancock is due to answer questions at the UK Covid inquiry on Thursday. The MP for West Suffolk has faced criticism of his decision-making during the pandemic. The BBC looks at some of the controversies surrounding Mr Hancock.

• Follow live coverage of the evidence session.

When was Hancock first elected?

Matt Hancock held the West Suffolk constituency for the Conservatives in 2010 with a majority of 13,050.

He defended the seat in each following general election with a majority of 23,194 in 2019.

On 7 December 2022 he announced he would be standing down at the next election.

Mr Hancock said he had "discovered a whole new world of possibilities which I am excited to explore".

His announcement came as some local party members said he was "not fit to represent" them.

In a letter, the West Suffolk Conservative Association president urged the Chief Whip not to re-admit Mr Hancock as a Tory MP.

He is currently an independent MP after he was suspended from the Conservatives for the joining a reality TV show.

Matt Hancock resigned as health secretary following pictures being published of him in an embrace with Gina Coladangelo (left)

Why did he resign as health secretary?

Mr Hancock resigned as health secretary in June 2021 after he breached social distancing guidance by kissing a colleague.

In a resignation letter to the prime minister, he said the government "owe it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down".

In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Hancock said: "I have been to see the prime minister to resign as secretary of state for health and social care.

"I understand the enormous sacrifices that everybody in this country has made, that you have made, and those of us who make these rules have got to stick by them and that's why I have got to resign."

Hancock (pictured with Boy George) completes a Bushtucker trial on I'm A Celebrity in 2022

Which reality shows has he been on?

Matt Hancock took part in the ITV reality show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2022.

He finished third, behind former footballer Jill Scott and actor Owen Warner.

Mr Hancock's participation in the series was criticised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said Hancock should not be away from his constituents while Parliament was sitting.

The 45-year-old was also criticised by Conservative colleagues and opposition MPs, as well as his local Conservative association, who said they were "disappointed" and accused Hancock of a "serious error of judgement".

He was paid £320,000 for appearing on the programme and claimed he donated £10,000 to charity from the fee.

Mr Hancock also featured in the Channel 4 programme Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins earlier this year, for which he was paid £45,000.

He came joint second and failed to pass the gruelling training regime.

The show's chief instructor Mark "Billy" Billingham said Mr Hancock became "quite annoying" while taking part.

Mr Hancock said he broke a rib during filming

What happened with his book?

Matt Hancock worked alongside journalist Isabel Oakeshott on his Pandemic Diaries in December 2022.

However he accused Ms Oakeshott of a "massive betrayal and breach of trust" after she released 100,000 WhatsApp messages linked to Mr Hancock's time as health secretary at the height of the pandemic to The Telegraph newspaper.

Ms Oakeshott defended releasing the messages, saying it was in the "overwhelming national interest".

Mr Hancock said the messages were released in a "biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda".

What has been said at the inquiry so far?

Matt Hancock first gave evidence at the UK Covid inquiry in June 2023.

He said the UK's pandemic planning was "completely wrong".

Mr Hancock said he was "profoundly sorry" for each death.

Evidence from the former NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said Mr Hancock wanted to decide "who should live and die" if the NHS was overwhelmed.

In his witness statement, he said Mr Hancock thought he, not doctors or the public, should decide who to prioritise if hospitals became overwhelmed.

Sir Simon said: "Fortunately this horrible dilemma never crystallised."

Former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara told the inquiry Mr Hancock displayed "nuclear levels" of overconfidence, but had a habit of making assurances that turned out not to be true.

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