The Future of Matt Hancock in British Politics

Given all we know about him, Matthew Hancock (Matt Hancock) won’t be in UK politics for much longer, and he knows it. This is presumably why he's enriching his bank account in Australia rather than doing his duties as an MP.

I recently looked at YouGov’s popularity ratings for various Tories, and it’s not great reading for Matt Hancock. What this reflects is that around two-thirds of the country really didn't like it when politicians who were directly involved in writing the Coronavirus regulations we all had to abide by broke them to engage in personal activities such as getting drunk or having affairs. Hancock didn’t have the benefit of a friendly Fleet Street paper looking out for him trying to minimize the scandal. A faction within the Tory party wanted to remove him and replace him with a Health Secretary more inclined to relax restrictions, ironic given that Hancock was directly responsible for releasing elderly people from hospitals and back into care homes without adequate testing early in the pandemic—an error which possibly cost many lives. Killing a lot of grandparents probably doesn’t do wonders for your popularity either.

I don't think if Hancock's political career flames out in the near future, it would be either unlikely or unwelcome. He can go off to shill crypto or whatever.

Mat Hancock’s Young Age and Intelligence

Probably, Matt Hancock is still quite young relatively, and love him or hate him, he is incredibly bright. He was basically sacked for having an extramarital affair, no matter how people tried to dress it up, and people have come back from far worse scandals in the past. There is a good chance someone risks giving him another Cabinet role at some point.

The Independent Path

In my view, the only route left open to him is to stand as an independent in his local constituency, where he was apparently quite popular. He remained so even after the revelations that led to his downfall. Beyond that, in the normal world, the answer would be an emphatic no, but it’s not difficult to imagine a private assurance from Boris Johnson that he can slip back in through the side door after the dust has settled on the COVID crisis and his misdemeanors are no longer fresh in the minds of the public. It's worth remembering that Johnson's first move was to expel anyone with experience, integrity, and ability from the Cabinet and the party itself in some cases, and stuff it with sycophants whose only qualification was their unquestioning support for him. Think Rob Exazzo, Patel, and others.

Conclusion

Mat Hancock’s future in British politics remains uncertain. While he might still have a chance to regain a position, the road ahead seems fraught with challenges. His actions during the pandemic and after his affair have significantly damaged his reputation. However, his youth and intelligence may still offer opportunities for a comeback, even if it's not through traditional political channels.