Tuesday 1 November 2022 10:34 PM It's our job as politicians to go where the people are, says Hancock amid I'm A ... trends now

Matt Hancock has defended his controversial decision to go on this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here - insisting that by flying more than 10,000 miles from his Suffolk constituency to appear in the Australia-based reality TV show he 'go to where the people are' and 'promote his dyslexia campaign'.

The former Health Secretary, who was forced to quit Boris Johnson's Government after he was caught flouting his own Covid lockdown rules with his married aide Gina Coladangelo, has sparked a firestorm which has seen him ridiculed and even booted out of the parliamentary Tory party.

Defending his sensational decision, father-of-three Mr Hancock has insisted he is going to Australia to join I'm A Celeb so he can 'go to where the people are - not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster'.

Writing in The Sun, the former Cabinet minister said: 'While there will undoubtedly be those who think I shouldn't go, I think it's a great opportunity to talk directly to people who aren't always interested in politics, even if they care very much about how our country's run.

'It's our job as politicians to go to where the people are - not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster.

'There are many ways to do the job of being an MP. Whether I'm in camp for one day or three weeks, there are very few places people will be able to see a politician as they really are. 

'So, the truth is, I haven't lost my marbles or had one too many pina coladas. It's something I've given a lot of thought to. I was elected by the people, and it's important to engage with voters, especially younger voters, no matter where they are, and show the human side of politicians.'

Mr Hancock went on: 'I want to raise the ­profile of my dyslexia campaign to help every dyslexic child unleash their potential - even if it means taking an unusual route to get there... via the Australian jungle! I'm A Celebrity... is watched by millions of Brits up and down the country.

'I want to use this incredible platform to raise awareness, so no child leaves primary school not knowing if they have dyslexia.'

In the jungle Mr Hancock will be joining pop star Boy George, Coronation Street's Sue Cleaver, Hollyoaks' Owen Warner, TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas, former England rugby player Mike Tindall, Loose Women star Charlene White, radio presenter Chris Moyles, reality TV star Olivia Attwood, former footballer Jill Scott and comedian Babatunde Aleshe. 

The MP was suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party on Tuesday after he was revealed to be a surprise extra name added to the list of contenders for the reality show.

As well as being stripped of the party whip, campaigners for families bereaved in the Covid-19 pandemic accused him of trying to 'cash in on his terrible legacy'.

The response at Westminster was swift after news that West Suffolk MP Mr Hancock would join the ITV show, which starts on Sunday.

Chief whip Simon Hart said: 'Following a conversation with Matt Hancock, I have considered the situation and believe this is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect.'

One Tory MP described Mr Hancock as an 'absolute prat', while there was also anger in his constituency Tory association.

But he was also facing scrutiny over whether he upheld the rules on taking on work within two years of leaving office.

Mr Hancock did not seek advice from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) before agreeing to the appearance.

Lord Pickles, the Conservative chair of the anti-corruption watchdog that advises on post-ministerial jobs, is expected to write to Mr Hancock to demand clarification. Under the rules, Mr Hancock should seek clearance from Acoba for any new employment or appointments he takes on until until June next year.

A spokesman for Mr Hancock said the guidance 'was followed in good faith', adding: 'The Acoba website clearly states that it does not regard media appearances as an appointment or employment.'

However, the website only says that 'one-off' activities are not applicable and states that any 'longer term arrangement' requires a request to Acoba.

Depending on how he fairs during public votes, Mr Hancock could remain in the jungle for weeks.

In April, Tory MP and former housing minister Esther McVey was found to have broken the rules for failing to seek Acoba's advice over her 'regular engagement' as a GB News presenter.

In Mr Hancock's constituency, Andy Drummond, deputy chairman (political) of West Suffolk Conservative Association, said: 'I'm looking forward to him eating a kangaroo's penis. Quote me. You can quote me on that.'

Ian Houlder, a Conservative councillor on West Suffolk Council, said Mr Hancock has 'no shame'.

'Everybody knows what he did during the Covid pandemic and he seems to want to rehabilitate himself all the time in the public eye,' Mr Houlder said. 'He's got a skin as thick as a rhinoceros, quite frankly.'

Tory MP Tim Loughton said Mr Hancock had been an 'absolute prat'. 'I'm completely disappointed and disgusted that he's put his self and a so-called celebrity career ahead of serving his constituents,' he told Times Radio.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said it was 'unlikely' Rishi Sunak would be watching the programme.

'The PM believes that at a challenging time for the country MPs should be working hard for their constituents whether that is in the House or in their constituency,' the spokesman said.

Mr Hancock was forced to quit as health secretary in June 2021 after breaking coronavirus social distancing rules by conducting an affair in his ministerial office with aide Gina Coladangelo.

Mr Hancock was among supporters of Mr Sunak who welcomed the new leader to Conservative headquarters last week but was overlooked for a ministerial job under the new Prime Minister. He had also reportedly been considering a run to be chair of the Treasury Select Committee but pulled out of the race on Monday.

An ally of Mr Hancock said: 'There are many ways to do the job of being an MP. Whether he's in camp for one day or three weeks, there are very few places people will be able to see a politician as they really are.

'Where better to show the human side of those who make these decisions than with the most watched programme on TV? Politicians like Matt must go to where the people are - particularly those who are politically disengaged.

'Matt's of the view that we must embrace popular culture. Rather than looking down on reality TV, we should see it for what it is - a powerful tool to get our message heard by younger generations.'

The ally said producers of the show have agreed that Mr Hancock can communicate with constituency staff if there is an urgent matter in West Suffolk.

He will make a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk and he will also be required to declare the amount he receives from the show to Parliament.

Mr Hancock initially turned down the offer to take part because of the political chaos at Westminster, but since Mr Sunak became Prime Minister the former health secretary believes 'the government is stable'.

But his decision to enter the jungle drew criticism from political opponents, union chiefs and campaigners.

Lobby Akinnola, from the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign, said: 'Matt Hancock isn't a 'celebrity', he's the former health secretary who oversaw the UK having one of the highest death tolls in the world from Covid-19 whilst breaking his own lockdown rules.

'The fact that he is trying to cash in on his terrible legacy, rather than showing some humility or seeking to reflect on the appalling consequences of his time in Government, says it all about the sort of person he is.'

SNP MP Pete Wishart said: 'It speaks volumes that Matt Hancock would rather be stranded in a remote jungle eating kangaroo testicles than spend a moment longer on the Tory benches at Westminster, as Rishi Sunak's government lurches from one crisis to another.'

Shadow health minister Andrew Gwynne said: 'To be fair to Matt Hancock, I'd sooner eat wallaby anus than be a Tory MP too.'

The House of Commons is in recess from November 10-14, but celebrities could spend up to three weeks in the jungle - meaning Mr Hancock would miss significant Commons business, including the Autumn Statement on November 17 if he remains in the contest.

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants, said: 'Oh to have a job where you can decide for yourself you're taking a month off, abandon your work and responsibilities, get paid shedloads and face little consequence.

'I'm sure he'll be an inspiration to other public servants.'

Already possibly one of the nation's better known politicians for his role as health secretary during a once-in-a-century pandemic, Matt Hancock is about to encounter a whole new audience as he prepares to join I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Swapping the world of Westminster for jungle antics with Ant and Dec is certainly an unorthodox shift for the former minister, whose government career had an unfortunate ending after he resigned in the aftermath of his affair with an aide that broke his own coronavirus rules.

Only in recent days was Mr Hancock reportedly mulling a bid to become chair of the Treasury Select Committee, apparently opting instead for bushtucker trials instead of banks and bonds.

Appointed health secretary in 2018 after spending 18 months in the culture brief, he had been a prominent figure for the government during its handling of the coronavirus pandemic until his abrupt exit.

He had faced pressure to stand down after pictures emerged depicting the married minister appearing to kiss his adviser Gina Coladangelo, with CCTV images published in The Sun taken on May 6 when guidance on social distancing were still in place, with hugging between people from different households recommended against.

It was not the first time Mr Hancock had faced a negative headline during his time in office.

Around the same period, Boris Johnson's former aide Dominic Cummings had shared text messages in which Boris Johnson was said to have called the health secretary 'hopeless'.

Mr Cummings accused the senior minister of lying to the prime minister over promises to protect those in care homes during the first wave of Covid-19 infections by testing new residents before being admitted.

Mr Hancock dismissed claims he lied and called Mr Johnson's 'hopeless' jibe 'ancient history'.

Mr Hancock, who in 2018 became the only MP in British politics to launch his own app, took only eight years to rise from West Suffolk MP to health secretary.

The Oxford and Cambridge educated father-of-three previously worked as an economist at the Bank of England and as chief of staff to George Osborne when he was shadow chancellor of the exchequer, before taking a seat in the Commons.

The Cheshire-raised politician first attended cabinet after being appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office in 2015 by then prime minister David Cameron.

Mr Cameron's successor Theresa May later promoted him to the role of culture secretary.

The 42-year-old initially threw his hat into the ring to replace Mrs May in No 10 during the 2019 Conservative Party leadership contest but withdrew from the leadership race part way through and was quick to throw his weight behind Mr Johnson.

He was among the handful of ministers to retain his brief when Mr Johnson took power in July 2019, making him one of the most prominent ministers when coronavirus rocked Britain eight months later.

In his resignation video, he said that he was looking forward to 'supporting the government and the prime minister from the back benches to make sure that we can get out of this pandemic'.

After Boris Johnson's downfall this summer, he was an enthusiastic backer of Mr Sunak and speculation persisted that he still harboured a return to a Government role.

Even as Liz Truss's government crumbled, his advice from the sidelines did little to dampen that speculation.

'There's a huge amount of talent on the backbenches, I'm not talking about me, but there are many others that should be brought into Government,' he suggested as Ms Truss clung to power.

Once she resigned, he returned as a vocal Sunak backer - although his standing in the new leader's camp was brought into sharp relief after the victorious Mr Sunak appeared to blank the former health secretary, who stood waiting to greet him at the front of the crowd at Conservative HQ.

His decision to join I'm a Celebrity has already prompted mockery, as well as swift repercussions politically - Chief Whip Simon Hart said the situation was so serious he should have the right to sit as a Conservative suspended.

Allies said he would use his appearance to promote his backbench work on dyslexia, as he tried to 'embrace' popular culture.

'Politicians like Matt must go to where the people are - particularly those who are politically disengaged,' one ally said.

Others were less flattering.

Andy Drummond, deputy chairman (political) of West Suffolk Conservative Association, said: 'I'm looking forward to him eating a kangaroo's penis.

'Quote me. You can quote me that.' 

So who'll be joining him in the jungle? Full I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here 2022 line-up including Mike Tindall, Boy George and Olivia Attwood 

Former rugby star Mike will become the first member of The Royal Family to compete on I'm A Celebrity, and given his regal connections, the sportsman has already predicted he will be voted to take part in all of the Trials.

Remaining tight-lipped on his biggest fear, Mike – who is married to Princess Anne's daughter Zara – says he knows as soon as his fellow rugby friends find out he is taking part in the hit ITV programme, they will be on speed dial to make sure he does all the trials. 

'I am fully aware that anyone who has ever played rugby will go, ''Yeah let's stitch him up''. 'All my friendship group has that sort of humour and I know they will definitely want to vote for me! I am prepared to do quite a lot of challenges.'

Mike reveals his friend and former I'm A Celebrity star James Haskell, sang the programme's praises so much, he decided to finally say yes. 

He added: 'It is sinking in now that I am taking part.  I am ready to rumble! I have been asked on numerous occasions to take part. The timing was right this year and Hask (James) did the show and he had been talking about it.' 

He went onto joke that he won't mind taking part in the famous eating trials because it's a chance to have some 'protein', adding: 'I am eight years out of the game now so I am a bit more realistic about food, but I know James said the lack of food can sometimes be hard. 

'But at least with the eating trials, you get food in you! It might not taste very nice but at least it is serving a purpose and giving you a protein intake. Bring on those challenges.' 

Describing himself as an 'open book,' Mike added: 'With a rugby game you know what you are going to get and when it gets hard, you know what it looks like. 

'This is something you can't predict; you don't know where it will take you and so you can't really plan for it. Your ability to roll with the punches is something you have got to have. Hopefully I have that and I won't overthink things. Hopefully my personality suits this.'

The 2003 World Cup winner and MBE holder, who has three children with Zara, added 'first and foremost' he will miss his family.

He said: 'I will miss my bed too and a nice breakfast. I don't think I am too bothered about sleeping in a hammock but it will be interesting as I wouldn't say I am someone who falls asleep anywhere. But I have slept in a hammock before and it is something your body will get used to in time.' 

Legendary pop star Boy George has insisted that going on I'm A Celebrity will be a breeze compared to touring the world, declaring: 'It's just three weeks without any make-up on!' 

He added: 'I watch I'm A Celebrity every year and I had to think long and hard about this. But I feel like I am in a very fertile creative moment in my life. I am in a moment of rediscovery of who I am as a person, artist and older man and I feel like I do make a lot of effort to be in pop culture. 

'I am bored of being iconic in the corner and if you want to compete in the world then being part of telly is part of that. This is the biggest show on TV and that is why I am doing it. 

'And now I have made the decision, I don't want to focus too much on what the

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