'He should go sooner rather than later' - Newmarket MP Hancock to stand down

Matt Hancock, the former health secretary and MP for Newmarket, has announced he will stand down at the next general election.

Hancock has represented the West Suffolk constituency, which includes Britain's biggest racehorse training centre, for 12 years.

He was recently suspended as a Conservative MP for appearing on the reality TV show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! last month, in which he finished third.

His appearance on the programme and time away from office in Australia led to widespread criticism, including from the town's leading trainers. William Jarvis, Newmarket Trainers Federation chairman, said the MP was "thinking of himself rather than his constituents" while Michael Bell slammed it as "ridiculous."

Newmarket Town Council also sent a letter to Hancock requesting his resignation following a meeting last week.

Matt Hancock: pictured at a rally against the Sunnica Solar Farm in February

As a local MP, he was involved in a number of racing-related issues including fronting a march against the Sunnica Solar Farm and opposing a property development on Hatchfield Farm. Hancock also rode a winner of a charity race on the July course in 2012.

In a letter sent to prime minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday, Hancock said he had "discovered a whole new world of possibilities" while he also listed "supporting the horseracing industry" as one of his achievements from his parliamentary career.

Jarvis said on Wednesday: "I think he lost favour with his constituents and now he's going to pursue a new career. I'm sure he'll be very successful at it. When his mind was on the job he was a good MP, obviously things have taken a turn and so it's probably the right thing.

"He was keen on racing, we'd often see him at the sales or at the races so he was a friend of the industry. He was on our side.

"I've only just digested it, I don't know if we should have a by-election but he probably should go sooner rather than later."

Away from Newmarket, Hancock served as health secretary during the Covid-19 pandemic. He resigned after a video emerged of him kissing a colleague when social distance guidelines were in place.

His letter concluded by stating it had been "an honour" to represent the people of West Suffolk and that he would now look to "engage with the public in new ways."

The next general election must take place before January 23, 2025.

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