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| Matt Hancock defends joining I'm A Celebrity cast | Matt Hancock defends joining I'm A Celebrity cast |
| (38 minutes later) | |
| Matt Hancock has defended his decision to appear on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! - saying the TV show is a "powerful tool" to reach young people. | Matt Hancock has defended his decision to appear on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! - saying the TV show is a "powerful tool" to reach young people. |
| Writing in the Sun, the former health secretary said politicians must "go where the people are". | Writing in the Sun, the former health secretary said politicians must "go where the people are". |
| "I haven't lost my marbles or had one too many pina coladas," he wrote. | "I haven't lost my marbles or had one too many pina coladas," he wrote. |
| Mr Hancock - who has arrived in Brisbane ahead of the show's launch on Sunday - has faced a backlash over his reality TV ambitions. | Mr Hancock - who has arrived in Brisbane ahead of the show's launch on Sunday - has faced a backlash over his reality TV ambitions. |
| One Tory colleague, MP Tim Loughton, described him as a "absolute prat" and he has faced calls from opposition critics to give up his £84,144 a year MP's salary while he is in the Australian jungle. | One Tory colleague, MP Tim Loughton, described him as a "absolute prat" and he has faced calls from opposition critics to give up his £84,144 a year MP's salary while he is in the Australian jungle. |
| In a statement, his local West Suffolk Conservative Association said it was "disappointed" and accused Mr Hancock of a "serious error of judgement". | In a statement, his local West Suffolk Conservative Association said it was "disappointed" and accused Mr Hancock of a "serious error of judgement". |
| "MPs should be working hard for their constituents, particularly when we have a cost of living crisis and people are facing hardship," the group added. | "MPs should be working hard for their constituents, particularly when we have a cost of living crisis and people are facing hardship," the group added. |
| 'It's lonely being a politician in the jungle' | 'It's lonely being a politician in the jungle' |
| Tindall, Moyles and Boy George set for I’m A Celeb | Tindall, Moyles and Boy George set for I’m A Celeb |
| 'Hancock going on I'm A Celebrity is a disgrace' | 'Hancock going on I'm A Celebrity is a disgrace' |
| Mr Hancock has said he will donate some of his fee for the programme - which he will have to declare in the Register of Members' Interests - to charity. | Mr Hancock has said he will donate some of his fee for the programme - which he will have to declare in the Register of Members' Interests - to charity. |
| The West Suffolk MP was suspended as a Conservative MP after announcing he was off to Australia to take part in Bushtucker trials but will continue to be paid as an independent MP. | The West Suffolk MP was suspended as a Conservative MP after announcing he was off to Australia to take part in Bushtucker trials but will continue to be paid as an independent MP. |
| Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - who appeared to snub Mr Hancock when he was crowned Tory leader last week - seems to have taken a dim view of his colleague's latest career move. | Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - who appeared to snub Mr Hancock when he was crowned Tory leader last week - seems to have taken a dim view of his colleague's latest career move. |
| The prime minister's official spokesman said he believes "MPs should be working hard for their constituents, whether that is in the House or in their constituency". | The prime minister's official spokesman said he believes "MPs should be working hard for their constituents, whether that is in the House or in their constituency". |
| But Mr Hancock has rejected the criticisms, writing that it is the job of politicians to engage with people. | But Mr Hancock has rejected the criticisms, writing that it is the job of politicians to engage with people. |
| "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. In fact, I think it's patronising to hear some say reality TV is beneath a politician. | "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. In fact, I think it's patronising to hear some say reality TV is beneath a politician. |
| "It's as clear as day that politicians like me must go to where the people are — particularly those who are politically disengaged. We must wake up and embrace popular culture." | "It's as clear as day that politicians like me must go to where the people are — particularly those who are politically disengaged. We must wake up and embrace popular culture." |
| Nadine Dorries was suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party for six months after her appearance on I'm a Celebrity in 2012 | |
| MPs are allowed to do paid work beyond their role as an elected representative, and some earn significant amounts for consultancy and legal work. | |
| Participating in reality TV is not unheard of as a sideline and Mr Hancock is not the first politician to enter the I'm a Celebrity jungle. | |
| He follows in the footsteps of former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and ex-Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale. | |
| But critics have attacked the MP over his impending three-week absence from Parliament, at a time when energy costs are spiralling, the government is facing a budgetary "black hole" and the war in Ukraine rages on. | But critics have attacked the MP over his impending three-week absence from Parliament, at a time when energy costs are spiralling, the government is facing a budgetary "black hole" and the war in Ukraine rages on. |
| Mr Hancock said he had turned down two offers from reality TV producers in the summer "because of the instability government was facing at the time". | Mr Hancock said he had turned down two offers from reality TV producers in the summer "because of the instability government was facing at the time". |
| But he said with Mr Sunak now in post as prime minister, the political climate was "stable" enough to allow him to take up the opportunity - and he said he has agreed with the show's producers he can be reached at any point on any urgent constituency matters. | But he said with Mr Sunak now in post as prime minister, the political climate was "stable" enough to allow him to take up the opportunity - and he said he has agreed with the show's producers he can be reached at any point on any urgent constituency matters. |
| Watch: Fellow MP Michael Fabricant warns Matt Hancock about his own "awful" reality TV stint | Watch: Fellow MP Michael Fabricant warns Matt Hancock about his own "awful" reality TV stint |
| Watch: Fellow MP Michael Fabricant warns Matt Hancock about his own "awful" reality TV stint | Watch: Fellow MP Michael Fabricant warns Matt Hancock about his own "awful" reality TV stint |
| Mr Hancock previously served as health secretary, where he was responsible for managing the UK's response to Covid. | Mr Hancock previously served as health secretary, where he was responsible for managing the UK's response to Covid. |
| He was forced to quit the role after he was caught breaching social distancing guidance by kissing a colleague he was having an affair with in his office. | He was forced to quit the role after he was caught breaching social distancing guidance by kissing a colleague he was having an affair with in his office. |
| The former cabinet minister said he doesn't expect to serve in government again, but hopes to use his time in the jungle to raise awareness about dyslexia - which he has himself. | The former cabinet minister said he doesn't expect to serve in government again, but hopes to use his time in the jungle to raise awareness about dyslexia - which he has himself. |
| But the campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice called Mr Hancock's decision "sickening", and urged ITV to remove him from the programme. | But the campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice called Mr Hancock's decision "sickening", and urged ITV to remove him from the programme. |
| The group tweeted: "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 group tweeted: "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." |
| Andy Drummond, deputy chairman of the West Suffolk Conservative Association, said he was looking forward to seeing Mr Hancock "eating a kangaroo's penis". | Andy Drummond, deputy chairman of the West Suffolk Conservative Association, said he was looking forward to seeing Mr Hancock "eating a kangaroo's penis". |
| You can quote me on that," Mr Drummond added. | You can quote me on that," Mr Drummond added. |
| Mr Hancock could also be in trouble with Acoba - the body that advises ex-ministers on what jobs they can take on. | |
| As an ex-minister he is required to seek advice from the anti-corruption watchdog on appointments or employment he wants to take up within two years of leaving office. | |
| Mr Hancock did not give the body prior notice of his appearance on I'm a Celebrity and Acoba chairman, Conservative peer Lord Pickles, has written to him asking for an explanation. | |
| If Lord Pickles decides Mr Hancock has failed to comply with the rules he could face a range of sanctions under the ministerial code. |