Matt Hancock, former Death Secretary.

Since April, there have been 22,500 more deaths than expected in the UK. Health experts are concerned but unsure of the causes – which could include the dreaded plague, population ageing and NHS problems. But one more factor exists that government spokespeople don’t like to talk about.

“Cancer screening effectively stopped for a few months, the number of people being referred for tests dropped, and many tests and treatments were delayed,” commented Michelle Ferguson at Cancer Research UK.

“So, there will absolutely be knock-on effects, we just don’t know the scale yet.” she continued.

“There is a reason for having treatment time targets for cancers – the delays matter,” said Simon Wood at the University of Edinburgh.

The decision of the then Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, to close endoscopy units to outpatients throughout the country is proving to be one of the most short-sighted decisions by any government minister ever, one that has proved devastating to tens of thousands of cancer sufferers. It is predicted that deaths from this most deadly of diseases will not reach their peak until 2024.

According to Macmillan, cancer deaths have risen since the turn of the centre, from 150,000 in 2001, to 165,000 in 2021. Had the disgraced former Health Secretary spent more time studying and less time with his mistress, he might have known this, and if he did, what on earth possessed him to suspend screening?

The short-sighted measures brought in by this incompetent fool of a former Death Secretary will be felt for years to come. No wonder Rishi Sunak blanked him when going down a line of celebrating, fawning MPs.

Most laughable is the line that this was a whole new experience and that "They were doing their best" but, like dealing with electrics, if you don't know what you're doing, leave it the hell alone.

If only we could put Julian Assange in the House of Commons and Matt Hancock in Belmarsh Prison!

Martin Day – Party Secretary