Matt Hancock may have broken ministerial rules by failing to ask the authorities for permission to head to the jungle to appear on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!
The former health secretary did not ask Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) watchdog whether it was appropriate to join the reality show.
The chair of the committee, Tory peer Eric Pickles, is set to write to Mr Hancock to seek an explanation, The Independent understands.
The ministerial code says ex-ministers must check with Acoba about “any appointments or employment they wish to take up” within the first two years of leaving office.
But Mr Hancock’s spokesperson has said is still within rules, because they allow for “one-off broadcasts” on the media without permission.
The West Suffolk MP has been suspended from the party, but defended his decision in an article in The Sun, claiming he is participating in the show so he can “go to where the people are – not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster”.
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Hancock insists, ‘I haven’t lost my marbles’
Matt Hancock faced fresh Tory criticism over his decision to join I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! as he arrived in Australia for the show.
The former health secretary insisted “I haven’t lost my marbles” by deciding to join the reality show after being suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party.
Mr Hancock defended his decision in an article for The Sun, arguing it is “a great opportunity to talk 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’s our job as politicians to go to where the people are – not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster,” Mr Hancock wrote.
“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.”
He added: “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.”
Mr Hancock said he wants to use the “incredible platform” to raise awareness of dyslexia and insisted it “wasn’t the cheque” that made him decide to join the show.
Independent readers have their say on Matt Hancock
Here follow a few letters from readers of The Independent regarding the news of Matt Hancock’s entry into the jungle:
Matt Hancock should leave room for seconds
If ever anyone is deserving of eating the most disgusting of creatures night after night on prime TV then that person should be the ex-minister for health. Enjoy the feast, Matt Hancock.
Paul Morrison
Get Matt Hancock out of here
I feel compelled to offer my sincere congratulations to Matt Hancock, for finding his true vocation in life. It is more important than most people believe.
After leaving Australia, my humble advice to the ex-health secretary would be to join the celebrity game show circuit, both here and abroad. Probably best to avoid his old constituency or Westminster though.
Robert Boston
Pay to play
Rishi Sunak has removed the whip from Matt Hancock because he says he expects his MPs to do the work they are paid for. Surprisingly, no similar action has been taken against Boris Johnson, who sees no problem swanning off on family holidays when he is supposed to be either in parliament or working for his constituents.
Geoff Forward
Which politicians have appeared on reality TV?
Matt Hancock is but the latest in a series of elected representative who have put themselves to a different kind of public vote: that of the light television audience.
Independent TV rounds up the previous political reality TV appearances:
Matt Hancock’s reality TV stint shows how delusions of celebrity have derailed our politics | Voices
Indy Voices columnist and former government adviser Salmah Shah says Matt Hancock’s reality TV appearance is “a disgrace”.
She writes: Matt Hancock ending up as a contestant on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is, let’s be honest, completely predictable.
… This appearance is the latest in a long line of acts that merges entertainment with politics. It is not a trend that should be encouraged.
… While we should all take a moment to relish the absurdity of the member for West Suffolk eating animal anus and testicles for entertainment, we should also remember that this is actually a disgrace.
Sure, the memes of CCTV Hancock in a romantic embrace with a witchetty grub are hilarious, but it minimises just how awful this is. Our politicians are already morphing from public figures to celebrities. They render themselves unserious and less accountable when they turn into glossy, perma-tanned versions of themselves. It’s far easier to get away with breaking the rules when you’re a figure of fun rather than a serious public servant.
Get the full take from Salma here:
Another Tory says Hancock in the wrong
Transport secretary Mark Harper suggested Matt Hancock had not made the “right judgment” in his decision to enter the jungle.
Asked on LBC whether the former health secretary had made a misjudgment, Mr Harper said: “I think members of parliament should focus on doing their job, serving their constituents. That’s our first priority.
“I think we can draw conclusions from the fact that the whip has been taken away that perhaps Mr Hancock hasn’t made the right judgment in this case.”
Mr Harper’s comments come after a veiled swipe by Rishi Sunak, who said MPs should be focusing on their constituents.
One Tory colleague, MP Tim Loughton, was more frank, describing Mr Hancock as an “absolute prat”.
Mr Hancock was suspended from the Tory party soon after the news of his appearance on the ITV reality show broke.
Hancock’s ‘totally crackers’ but I wish him all the best, says Ed Balls
Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls has said he thinks Matt Hancock is “totally crackers” to be going into the jungle.
Mr Balls told viewers on ITV’s Good Morning Britain that he is worried it could be a misjudgment by the former health secretary.
He said: “Personally, I think good luck to him. But I think he is totally crackers to do this.
“Because I think it’s the wrong place to do it from, the wrong time and the wrong programme. To do it as a sitting MP just brings all these questions.
“He’s lost the whip, Sunak the prime minister is clearly furious, his constituents are going to be up in arms. He’s been paid to do this while he’s also going to the jungle.
“I mean, look, to be fair, Boris Johnson was on a Caribbean beach two weeks ago and he’s a sitting MP. But you know, this is a different thing.
Papers say Hancock ‘the man with no shame’
Round-up of some of the papers splashing on Matt Hancock today.
Daily Mirror taking the strongest line against the former health secretary, focusing on calls for him to resign as an MP and the anger of Covid-19 bereaved families, who have accused him of “cashing in” on tragedy. Daily Star throws back to the pandemic era, when for the paper’s readers Mr Hancock was Coco to then-prime minister Boris Johnson’s Bozo the Clown.
The Sun, which broke the news of Mr Hancock’s jungle jaunt, carries an exclusive article by the MP explaining his reasons for taking the controversial gig. Metro goes with the Covid-19 families and remind readers of the scandal that led to Mr Hancock’s resignation as health secretary.
Daily Mirror highlights the anger of the Tories and voters, while Daily Express points to Mr Hancock’s suspension from the parliamentary Conservative party.
Susanna Reid apologises after GMB guest calls Hancock a ‘d***head’
Susanna Reid was forced to apologise after a Good Morning Britain guest called Matt Hancock a “d***head”.
During this morning’s episode of the ITV show, hosts Reid and Ed Balls discussed the news that the 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 discussion on the topic, right-wing journalist Andrew Pierce, who works for The Daily Mail, made the comment about Hancock to Reid’s dismay.
Hancock shows contempt for constituents, says Labour
A Labour Party spokesman said: “Clearly the responsibility of members of parliament is to be representing their constituents, whether that’s in their constituency or in Parliament, and that is not what Matt Hancock is doing.
“It’s not something that we would support in terms of him doing. I think it shows contempt for his constituents to be going off to Australia to earn money in this way.
“I think it also raises questions around the rules on former ministers seeking employment as well.”
The spokesman said there are “clearly ways in which MPs should look to use all means of communications to talk about their work” but “this mustn’t happen in a way which undermines their primary responsibility, which is to be around to represent their constituents”.
