Matt Hancock to tell of 'heroic' role in pandemic as he seeks £100,000 book deal
Former health secretary Matt Hancock said he’s been approached to write a book which is understood to focus on his ‘heroic’ role over the pandemic.
The ex-cabinet minister quit in June when he was exposed for breaking his own social distancing rules by kissing an aide.
He’s made no secret of his wish to reboot his political career and is now set to pen a ‘How I Won The Covid War’ book.
Mr Hancock is in talks with HarperCollins on a blow-by-blow account of ‘heated’ lockdown rows with ministers, aides, scientists and medics.
It is understood he will hit back at former No 10 aide Dominic Cummings who has accused him of lying and incompetence.
The book is unlikely to include chapters on his affair with Gina Coladangelo which brought about the end of his 15-year marriage and his role as health secretary.
Instead, it will focus on his work on Covid-19 vaccines, with Britain the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer Covid jab in early December 2020.
Insiders say Mr Hancock will fuel a vicious war of words with the explosive claim that Mr Cummings’ ‘destructive antics’ delayed the vaccine breakthrough.
They suggest he will also take aim at EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen over rows about Covid jab.
Mr Hancock told MailOnline: ‘I have been approached to write a book, but no decisions have been made.’
He is said to want it published just before the official Covid inquiry starts in the spring, and intends to portray himself in a ‘heroic light’ and ‘get his version of events out there’ before he faces the inquiry.
Mr Hancock also faced accusations of cronyism amid the pandemic.
The former landlord at one of his favourite pubs won a multi-million pound contract to supply the government with vials for Covid tests, despite never having produced medical supplies before.
In February the High Court ruled that he acted unlawfully over billions of pounds’ worth of coronavirus-related contracts.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Source: Read Full Article