Matt Hancock, the former UK health secretary, will no longer become a special envoy for the United Nations after the job offer was withdrawn.

Hancock had said he was “honoured” to be working with the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa to help the continent recover from the pandemic.

But campaigners objected to the appointment last week because of his record in government, and on Friday the UN’s official spokesman said the appointment “would not be taken forward”.

The UNECA has since removed the press release announcing Hancock’s appointment from its website.

More follows.