Matt Hancock sets up fundraising page and people are paying to troll him

Matt Hancock’s fundraising page for his London Marathon attempt has been taken over by trolls, who are leaving him insulting comments.

The disgraced former health secretary is running the marathon in October to raise funds for St Nicholas Hospice Care in his constituency of West Suffolk.

He has so far raised over £3,000 but people have started to donate £2 – the minimum amount that can be donated – so that they can leave sarcastic comments directed at Hancock on the JustGiving page.

Many comments attacked Hancock for his handling of COVID while health secretary, while others referenced his resignation after he was caught on video cheating on his wife with his aide Gina Coladangelo, breaking lockdown rules at the same time.

One person wrote: “Hancock… has annihilated social care and the NHS yet looked the public in the eye and cried crocodile tears pretending to care.

“I despise you and the Tory party for what you have done to this country.”

Watch: 'Did you sack Hancock?' PM grilled by MPs

Another added: “I'm paying two quid to add my voice to all those who never want to see your face in public life ever again.

“I hope you get booed in every public place you are seen – looking forward to your trial.”

Some comments are seemingly being deleted soon after the appear.

In his appeal for donations, Hancock wrote: "St Nicholas Hospice Care is a fantastic charity working in my constituency of West Suffolk, who look to give help, support and advice to those who are living with long-term and life-threatening illnesses.

"The Hospice sees around 2,000 people each year and any money donated will make a real difference to people's lives.

"This is my first London Marathon and I'm really excited to take part and raise money for St Nicholas Hospice Care. I have already started my training and hope to keep you all updated with my progress."

After Hancock’s affair was exposed, the MP resigned from his role as health secretary and left his wife to start a relationship with Coladangelo.

The level of public anger at Hancock's actions was marked.

A poll in July showed that people thought his resignation made the prime minister look weak and the government sleazy.

A separate poll in the immediate aftermath of allegations about his affair showed 49% of the public thought he should resign compared with 25% who said he shouldn't. That was up from more than 1 in 3 people who thought he should resign in May over his handling of the pandemic.

Watch: Javid praises Hancock in first comments as health secretary