Related: Matt Hancock sings Ed Sheeran on I’m a Celebrity
Matt Hancock defended his appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! amid demands for his resignation, saying his participation was acceptable as British politics was in a more stable position with Rishi Sunak as prime minister.
Before flying to Australia to enter the jungle, the MP for West Suffolk came under fire for his decision to take as many as three weeks away from his duty to constituents, with Mr Sunak being “very disappointed” in his former cabinet colleague.
Speaking with fellow campmate Charlene White, a journalist and Loose Women presenter, the former health secretary maintained that his participation was justified because there is now “stability” in UK politics after the tumult of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss’s failed premierships.
“We’ve had stability for all of five minutes Matt,” replied Ms White, to which Mr Hancock said: “Rishi’s great, he’ll be fine.”
Meanwhile, the councillors in his constituency have said that Mr Hancock should “do the honourable thing and resign”, asking him to “clear the pitch for someone who wants to serve the people of West Suffolk”.
Matt Hancock’s jungle arrival met with shock, incredulity and laughter
Matt Hancock’s highly anticipated arrival in the jungle was met with a mixture of shock, incredulity and uncontrollable laughter from his fellow I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! campmates.
The former health secretary, 44, joined the cast of the ITV reality show yesterday, after facing much criticism over his decision from the public and fellow politicians.
Shortly after arriving he took part in the Beastly Burrows Bushtucker Trial challenge alongside fellow late entry, comedian Seann Walsh – and was later selected again by the public to face a second trial today.
Namita Singh10 November 2022 05:00
Hancock’s constituents call for him to resign
Matt Hancock should “do the honourable thing and resign”, councillors in his constituency say.
The former health secretary has faced widespread condemnation for taking part in the reality TV show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Critics say he cannot be serving his constituents while he is more than 10,000 miles away in Australia.
Councillors in the biggest town in his constituency held a show of hands and voted by a majority to tell him to stand down.
Namita Singh10 November 2022 04:45
Matt Hancock says Sunak is ‘great’, as he defends participating in reality show
Matt Hancock admitted in his first day on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! that he understood why people might be “angry” at his decision to join the reality TV show, though he stuck by the defence that his appearance was acceptable as British politics was stable with Rishi Sunak as prime minister.
Controversy followed the former health secretary into the jungle, as campmate Boy George was reduced to tears by Mr Hancock’s arrival, citing his mother’s serious illness during the pandemic.
Viewers of the ITV show appeared to want to punish the MP for West Suffolk, voting for him to take part in one of the programme’s Bushtucker Trials; challenges which generally force a contender to do something disgusting or frightening to win food for their campmates.
My colleague Liam James reports:
Namita Singh10 November 2022 04:28
Welcome to The Independent’s UK politics blog for Thursday, 10 November 2022, where we provide the latest from Westminster.
Namita Singh10 November 2022 04:07
Kaynak: briturkish.com