New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
11 January 2013

Tory MP Matthew Hancock accused of talking “nonsense“ over missed Daybreak interview

Daybreak presenter says the MP, who overslept, was "much more than a minute late".

By George Eaton

Given George Osborne’s fondness for bemoaning those “sleeping off a life on benefits” there was amusement yesterday when it emerged that his former chief of staff, Matthew Hancock (read Rafael’s profile of him here), missed an interview on ITV’s Daybreak after he overslept. Hancock, who was due to discuss a new apprenticeship scheme for unemployed youths, was reportedly still in bed when his car arrived. The repentant Conservative MP wrote on Twitter: “I got 2 tv studio at 6:41 this am so missed 6:40 slot. You’ve got to be on time for work or there r consequences. I’ll learn from my example”.

But this morning Daybreak presenter Matt Barbet accused the skills minister of “spinning” and talking “nonsense”. In a tweet addressed to the MP, he wrote: “Appreciate admission about missing us on @daybreak. Everyone oversleeps – but you know you were much more than a minute late.”

Content from our partners
Artificial intelligence and energy security
Radioactive waste: Britain's challenge
Wayne Robertson: "The science is clear on the need for carbon capture"
Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month