Matt Hancock enjoys a ‘Permissionless Experience’

Ah, Matt Hancock: the man who makes Gavin Williamson and his manoeuvrings look subtle. The former Health Secretary marked the anniversary of his fall from grace by going out to bat for the government’s Protocol bill in the Times (hint, hint Bozza). But until he gets recalled to his rightful place in the Cabinet, the West Suffolk MP has a new way of occupying his time: making the case for crypto in the corridors of power.

It’s been a rough old time for the industry in recent months, with Non-Fungible Token trades more than halving in number since the beginning of April. But that hasn’t stopped Hancock from enthusiastically banging the drum in Westminster. The self-proclaimed ‘crypto champion’ has a glowing piece in today’s City AM in which he reveals his ‘vision’ of non-professional investors being given access to ‘high-risk investment products.’ This is despite the repeated warnings of the Financial Conduct Authority which claims that consumers ‘should be prepared to lose all their money.’

Still, that hasn’t stopped Hancock who, according to the newly-updated register of members’ interests, spent a week last month in New York and Miami discussing such issues. The visit was worth an impressive £11,638 in total, courtesy of Hawksmoor Technology Advisors, and saw him attend a crypto-conference called the ‘Permissionless Experience’ – not the first time he’s had one of those.

Hancock isn’t the only MP to enjoy an exciting excursion recently. Crispin Blunt went to a Canadian conference to speak ‘on the role of psychedelics in the treatment of mental health conditions’ – talk about a good trip. And Karen Bradley, whose spell at the Northern Ireland Office involved a fair amount of ups and downs, got three tickets and ‘fastrack passes to Alton Towers Theme Park’.

As if Westminster didn’t have enough amusement already….