HUMILIATED Matt Hancock has made a grovelling apology to his constituency party as he battles to cling on as an MP.
Tory bigwigs in his leafy West Suffolk seat last night tried to quash a brewing rebellion by throwing a protective arm around the embattled ex-Health Sec.
Follow our Matt Hancock live blog for the latest updates…
Furious local politicians are plotting to turf cheating Mr Hancock out of Parliament in the wake of his lockdown-defying affair with close aide Gina Coladangelo.
HOAR yesterday revealed a blistering letter sent by one enraged Tory councillor to West Suffolk Conservative Association demanding Mr Hancock is ditched as the candidate before the next election.
But after “taking soundings” the party hierarchy – which has so far kept silent – rallied round their wounded MP.
A statement said: “We wish to express our support for Matt, who has served our constituency tirelessly over the past 11 years.
“Matt has given us a heartfelt apology for recent events, has faced up to the mistakes he has made on both a human and a professional level and expressed sincere contrition.
“They thanked him for his “extraordinary work” in the pandemic and hoped he would continue to represent the seat.
While quitting as Health Secretary after we revealed his bombshell affair with a close aide, Mr Hancock resolved to keep serving on the back benches.
Boris Johnson even hinted he could return to frontline politics, saying his “contribution to public life is far from over”.
But Mr Hancock is now braced for a deselection battle waged by gobsmacked locals – in a grassroots revolt similar to the infamous “Turnip Taliban” that tried to turf out Liz Truss following her canoodling with a fellow MP in 2012.
Tory councillor Ian Houlder broke ranks in a scathing letter to the local Party chair.
He fumed: “As chair of the WSCA it will fall to you and the Association Officers to ask Matt Hancock to stand down as our MP.
“His behaviour has been beyond the pale, his honour, integrity and honesty, should he have any, trashed beyond redemption.”
Mr Houlder – recently barred by lockdown from attending a loved-one’s funeral – excoriated Mr Hancock for the sheer hypocrisy of telling Brits to follow the rules “whilst doing the complete opposite himself.”
He also wrote to Mr Hancock’s Commons office, blasting: “If you have a shred of integrity or honour you would resign without delay.”
The withering Tory added: “Do the residents of West Suffolk a favour and stand down.”
The withering Tory added: “Do the residents of West Suffolk a favour and stand down.”
He told HOAR he has spoken to others who share his anger and has written to the chair of the council to list the scandal on the agenda at the next meeting.
He told HOAR he has spoken to others who share his anger and has written to the chair of the council to list the scandal on the agenda at the next meeting.
It is tricky to turf out an MP during a parliament – but they can be deselected as the candidate ahead of the next election.
Mr Houlder said there is a small group of Hancock loyalists who will rally round the embattled MP.
