Matt Hancock’s Newcastle message backfires as fans call him out over ‘donated’ shirt

Matt Hancock was forced to explain himself after recording a message in a signed Newcastle United shirt – which he’d auctioned three years ago.

The former health secretary and I’m A Celebrity contestant shared a 10-second long TikTok to his 181.4k followers before the Magpies took on Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday (February 26).

“So exciting, if you’ve been a Newcastle fan – we’ve waited years for this, we haven’t been to Wembley for years. This is the most exciting thing that’s happened since Kevin Keegan. Bring it on,” he said, while wearing his signed kit.

READ MORE: Man Utd and Newcastle player ratings as Casemiro oozes class in Carabao Cup final

However, viewers quickly noticed it was the same one which he donated for an online auction hosted by the radio DJ Chris Evans back in 2020 to help raise funds for NHS scrubs amid the coronavirus pandemic.

After being called out for it, Hancock made another TikTok in which he said: “A load of people have been in contact about my shirt that I was wearing last night and they spotted it’s the same one that I auctioned for charity a couple of years ago.

“What happened was the guy who bought it then gave it back to me as a gift, which is really kind of him. I’m very grateful. So I’ve still got my beloved signed shirt.”

Have you ever received such a strikingly kind gesture? Let us know in the comments section.

The MP’s spokesperson also reiterated: “Matt put his signed Newcastle football shirt up for sale as part of Chris Evans’s NHS charity appeal to raise money for scrubs, but the person who bought it very kindly gave Matt’s beloved shirt back to him as a gift.”

At the time of the auction, Hancock had offered to add his signature to the strip. In the description of the lot, he wrote: “This shirt was gifted to me by uncle Dave. It was because of him that I am now a lifelong supporter and fan of Newcastle United.

“Signed by the team. The top as seen hanging behind me on the bookshelf during many of my Skype interviews – I will sign it for you also if you like.”

Hancock resigned from his position as health secretary in June 2021 after he breached social distancing guidance by kissing a colleague – thus breaking the rules he implemented. His appearance on last year’s I’m A Celeb, on which he finished third, therefore divided opinion.

There were also question marks over his integrity for helping a former Conservative minister to secure a PPE deal following the outbreak of Covid-19.

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