GMB host Richard Madeley accuses Matt Hancock of using Ukrainian refugee scheme to 'rebuild reputation'

15.03.2022 - 12:05 / dailyrecord.co.uk

Matt Hancock has been accused of using the UK's refugee scheme to improve his personal image by taking in a Ukrainian family.

The former Health Secretary revealed on ITV 's Good Morning Britain that he will take in five Ukrainians who will stay in his West Suffolk constituency home.

Britons came forward in such large numbers to offer to take in Ukrainian refugees that the website for registering interest crashed shortly after opening.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities confirmed that, as of 9.30pm on Monday, more than 43,000 households had offered to put up those fleeing the conflict as part of the UK Government's sponsorship scheme.

Presenter Richard Madeley said people would accuse Hancock of using the scheme to improve his reputation after his affair with an aide led to him resigning as Health Secretary.

During the interview the Tory MP revealed he would take in five Ukrainians who would stay in his constituency home while he stayed in his flat in London.

Madeley said: "We all know that there will be cynics watching this and people who will go online and on Twitter and social media.

"They'll say that the reason you're doing this is to help rebuild your reputation after you had a fall, you had a bad political fall, and you're sort of in the wilderness, and that's why you're doing this to basically improve your standing.

"What would you say to people who say that?"

Hancock replied: "It's actually completely the other way round.

"This came from me doing constituency work, which doesn't often get talked about, but all MPs do it.

"Nearly all of them really enjoy it.

"I was on BBC Radio Suffolk yesterday morning, talking about the scheme and I was asked straight up, 'you're encouraging other people to sign