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Matt Hancock may have broken ministerial rules by failing to ask the authorities for permission to head into the jungle to appear on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! The former health minister did not ask the Business Dating Advisory Board (Acoba) whether it was appropriate for him to participate in the reality show. The committee’s chairman, Tory peer Eric Pickles, is to write to Mr Hancock to demand an explanation, the Independent understands. The ministerial code says former ministers must contact Acoba about “any appointment or employment they wish to undertake” within the first two years of leaving. But Mr Hancock’s spokesman said it was still within the rules because they allow “one-off broadcasts” to the media without a licence. The West Suffolk MP has been banned from the party but defended his decision in an op-ed in The Sun, claiming he is taking part in the show so he can “go where the people are – not to sit in ivory towers at Westminster”. .
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Susanna Reid apologizes after GMB guest calls Hancock a ‘d***head’
Susanna Reid has been forced to apologize after a Good Morning Britain guest called Matt Hancock a “dhead”. During this morning’s episode of the ITV show, hosts Reid and Ed Balls discussed the news that former health secretary Matt Hancock will be heading to the jungle to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here !. During a heated debate on the issue, right-wing journalist Andrew Pierce, who works for the Daily Mail, made the comment about Hancock to Reid’s dismay. Susanna Reid forced to apologize after GMB guest calls Matt Hancock a ‘dhead’ Liam James2 November 2022 15:56 1667403570
Hancock shows contempt for voters, say Labor
A Labor spokesman said: “Clearly the responsibility of MPs is to represent their constituents, whether in their constituency or in Parliament, and that is not what Matt Hancock is doing. “It’s not something we would support in terms of him doing. I think it shows contempt for his constituents to go to Australia to make money that way. “I think it raises questions about the rules around ex-ministers looking for work as well.” The spokesman said “there are clear ways in which MPs should look to use all media to talk about their work” but “this should not happen in a way that undermines their primary responsibility, which is is to be around to represent their constituents.” Liam James2 November 2022 15:39 1667402127
Matt Hancock beware – politicians have a patchy reality TV track record
“You get the distinct impression with Matt Hancock that he is essentially giving up his political career, which is understandable, but also not understandable,” writes Sean O’Grady. “It’s quite understandable in the sense that this career really hasn’t really recovered from his office affair. And his messy resignation, when Boris Johnson only wanted to keep him so he could use him as a human shield later, didn’t add to Hancock’s prestige. He looks dead in the water – but just think of the incredible recent comebacks by Jeremy Hunt and Rishi Sunak.” Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 15:15 1667400327
MPs to ‘hit the phones’ for Hancock to face chilling row, Labor says
Labour’s shadow health secretary said both Tories and opposition MPs would send messages to ITV so Matt Hancock gets “more than his fair share” of the Bastucker trials during his time as Celebrity. Criticizing Mr Hancock’s decision, he said: “Politicians are not celebrities. We are people in a position, a privileged position, which is actually given to us by voters who… send us parliament to act on their behalf to serve their interests. That’s what we have to do.” Streeting told GB News: “In fact, what I can tell you in a unifying cross-party memo, and we’ve had many sections in Westminster behind me, we’re all going to be ringing the phones to make sure Matt Hancock gets more than his fair share which belongs to him in the cane trials.’ Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 14:45 1667400193
Hancock is one of the favorites to come out of the jungle first
Matt Hancock is among the early favorites to be the first contestant to leave this year’s I’m a Celeb, according to Betfair. Hancock is 6/1 to go first, with Scarlette Douglas and Charlene White both 3/1 and Sue Cleaver 5/1. The former health minister looks set for a rough ride in the jungle as he has managed to break the 2/1 record for most runs. Adam Forrest 2 November 2022 14:43 1667398527
Former health minister says reality show is ‘great opportunity’ to engage with people who don’t care about politics
Matt Hancock defended his decision saying it was “a great opportunity to speak directly to people who aren’t always interested in politics”. He said reality TV is an “honest and unfiltered” way to communicate with voters. “It is our job as politicians to go where the people are – not to sit in ivory towers at Westminster,” Mr Hancock wrote in an op-ed for the Sun. “There are many ways to do the MP’s job. Whether I’m in camp for a day or three weeks, there are very few places where people will be able to see a politician as he really is.” He added: “Well the truth is I didn’t lose my marbles or have one too many pina coladas. It’s something I’ve thought about a lot.” Hancock said he wants to use the “incredible platform” to raise awareness of dyslexia and insisted it was “not the cheque” that made him decide to take part in the show. He said he rejected the scheme “twice this summer” but had a “change of heart” after workers asked a third time last week. The MP said it wasn’t the money that changed his mind, saying he would make “a donation” to St Nicholas Hospice Care in Suffolk, although he stopped short of giving up the full amount. He said he felt able to go into the jungle now that “the government is stable”. Mr Hancock said he could be contacted on “any urgent constituency matters”. Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 14:15 1667396727
Hancock insists: ‘I haven’t lost my marbles’
Matt Hancock has faced fresh Tory criticism over his decision to take part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! as he arrived in Australia for the show. The former health secretary said he was entering the jungle of the ITV program to “go where the people are – not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster”. The former health secretary insisted he “hasn’t lost my marbles” in deciding to take part in the reality show after being kicked out of the parliamentary Conservative Party. The West Suffolk MP insisted his “first priority” is his constituents as he flew more than 10,000 miles to take part in the ITV show, which starts on Sunday. But cabinet minister Mark Harper said Hancock had not made the “right judgement” and will now have to decide whether he wants to continue as an MP on his return. Mr Hancock suspended the Tory whip from leader Simon Hart, who described the situation as “serious”. Transport Secretary Mr Harper told Sky News: “The chief whip has made his position clear, which is that he has made a decision that continuing on I’m A Celebrity is not compatible with doing your job properly as a member of the Parliament”. Pressed on whether Mr. Hancock should resign as an MP, Mr. Harper said: “What he chooses to do in the future is up to him.” Mr Harper told LBC: “I think we can infer from the fact that the whip has been removed that perhaps Mr Hancock has not made the right judgment in this case.” Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 2, 2022 1:45 p.m 1667395828
“Bulky cut” faced by Hancock in bushtucker trials reported in Commons
Tory MP Anthony Mangnall refers to Matt Hancock’s appearance on I’m A Celebrity as he asked about the UK’s trade deal with Australia. The fan said Hancock “will enjoy a certain slim cut in his trials”. Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 2, 2022 1:30 p.m 1667394927
Scotland’s health secretary has no intention of following in Hancock’s footsteps
Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has said she has no intention of following in the footsteps of her former Westminster counterpart Matt Hancock by joining I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!. Mr Yousaf said he “couldn’t care less” about the Tory MP’s impending appearance in the jungle. Mr Hancock faced criticism from opposition politicians and his own party, with the Tory whip suspended, after his decision to take part in the reality TV show. Mr Yousaf, who worked with Mr Hancock when he was UK health secretary during the pandemic, said there were much bigger issues to worry about than what jungle challenges he was facing. During a visit to Bangholm Medical Center in Edinburgh, Mr Yousaf said: “I couldn’t care less, honestly. I really have so much else on my plate that I don’t care what he does, what he eats, and what challenges he’s involved in. “I wish nobody was sick, I have to say, and I was involved with Matt Hancock when I was first in this role, but what Matt Hancock chooses to do is for Matt Hancock. “Honestly, no disrespect, I couldn’t care less.” When asked if he could follow suit, Mr Yousaf simply replied: “No”. Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 2, 2022 1:15 p.m 1667393271
Quit MP, Lib Dems tell ‘selfish’ Hancock
Liberal Democrat vice-president Daisy Cooper said Matt Hancock was “choosing to feed his ego” by going into the jungle – calling his decision to appear on I’m a Celeb “selfish and shameful”. He added: “Even the government…
