Matt Hancock accused of trying to 'cash in' on COVID after he's approached to write book on pandemic
Both Labour and the families of coronavirus victims are calling for the publication of any book by Matt Hancock to be blocked until a promised public inquiry has been held into the government's handling of the pandemic.
Saturday 13 November 2021 21:04, UK
Former health secretary Matt Hancock has been "approached" about writing a book about his pandemic experience but the Tory MP has not decided whether to take up the offer.
A spokeswoman for Mr Hancock, who resigned in June after admitting to breaking COVID restrictions, said there was currently "no deal" signed.
"Matt has been approached to write a book about his experiences in the pandemic, but no decisions have been made.
"There is no deal.
"The people who were heroic during the pandemic were the NHS staff who worked round the clock to save lives."
The confirmation of the approach comes after the Daily Mail reported the former Cabinet minister was in line to sign a £100,000 book deal with publisher HarperCollins.
However, HarperCollins has said it is not in talks with the Conservative MP for West Suffolk and has "no knowledge" of any book about his pandemic experience.
"We have no knowledge of such a book and are not in talks," it said in a tweet.
According to the newspaper, the book would allow Mr Hancock to tell his version of events of what went on inside Government as the pandemic struck, and the subsequent search for and rollout of the vaccines.
The report sparked anger with Labour calling for the Cabinet Office to "block" its publication, which the Mail said could come out before a public inquiry, due to commence next year, into ministers' handling of COVID.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said on Twitter: "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."
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The COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK said any memoir by Mr Hancock would "inevitably cause pain and hurt" for those mourning people who died after contracting the virus, and urged a rethink by the potential publisher.
The group posted on social media: "You'd think the health secretary who presided over one of the worst death tolls in the world would have some humility or seek to reflect on the many lives lost, rather than try and cash in on the tragedy.
"Families have a right to hear about the decisions that have changed their lives forever in an inquiry, not a tell-all memoir."
Mr Hancock resigned from government in June after admitting to breaching COVID rules.
it followed the emergence of CCTV footage of him embracing his aide Gina Coladangelo in his departmental office.