The former British health secretary Matt Hancock has had a job offer from the United Nations withdrawn.
On Tuesday, Hancock had been bragging ‘that he was honoured’ to be working with the UN’s economic commission for Africa (Uneca) and that he was looking forward to helping the continent recover from the covid pandemic.
Hancock was hoping the new job would help him restore career and public image.
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However campaigners objected to his new position because of his record in government during the covid crisis, and on Friday the UN’s official spokesperson confirmed that the appointment would not be taken forward.
The Guardian reports: The Uneca had lavished praise on Hancock’s abilities, saying it had asked him to take on the role because of his “economic policy expertise, experience operating financial markets at the Bank of England and in-depth understanding of government and multilateral through his various ministerial cabinet roles”.
The release quoted the commission’s under secretary general, Vera Songwe, saying: “We are confident that his expertise and leadership will offer immediate and long-term impact particularly in effecting long-term financial growth.”
Hancock was also quoted in the Uneca release as saying he was “thrilled” to be joining the organisation, adding: “I care deeply about making this happen not only because of the strong economic opportunity but because we share a view of Africa as a strategic long-term partner.”
The withdrawal of the offer will come as a blow to Hancock’s efforts to rebuild his career after resigning as health secretary in June, following revelations that he had been having an affair with his parliamentary aide during lockdown.
Songwe is said to have appointed Hancock Nimco Ali, a Home Office adviser on violence against women, introduced her to the MP. He spoke at a fringe event at the Conservative party conference this month, saying he wanted to help bring private investment to Africa.
The announcement of his new role was greeted with support by senior Conservatives including Michael Gove, Sajid Javid and Damian Green.
However, NGOs and activists objected to the appointment, which was announced on the same day that MPs published a report saying thousands of people had died because the government had failed to lock down early enough, while Hancock was health secretary.
Global Justice Now said in a tweet: “Matt Hancock blocked international efforts to allow low- and middle-income countries to produce their own Covid-19 vaccines, leading to millions of global south deaths. The audacity of this man claiming to help African nations and promote sustainable development is sickening.”
The UN secretary general’s official spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said: “Mr Hancock’s appointment by the UN economic commission for Africa is not being taken forward. ECA has advised him of the matter.”
Hancock said the UN had written to him to explain that a technicality in its rules meant it could not offer him a special representative role as planned.
Niamh Harris
See his cover got blown so they have to distance themselves from him now.
As an appointee of the Bank of England working on many layers aka conning and deceiving while ripping of Africa. Which they all want to look as if its ruled by Africans in the history books, so they look democratic, but meanwhile they’re setting up all the Law. Because Africa actually has the healthiest economy on earth with the greatest expected profits of any country on earth in the near future. They’ll just have to substitute someone who still has the public deceived.
The more slaves they have the better the economy
Phuk the un