MPs urge ex-health minister to resign ahead of ‘I’m a Celebrity’

Jump to contentSign up to our newslettersSubscribeNewsSportsVoicesCultureLifestyleTravelPremiumCloseMatt Hancock has Tory whip suspended after joining I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of HereMatt 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’. 1667394927Scotland’s health secretary Humza Yousaf has said he has no intention of following in the footsteps of his former Westminster counterpart Matt Hancock by taking part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.Mr Yousaf said he ‘couldn’t care less’ about the Conservative MP’s impending jungle appearance.Mr Hancock has faced criticism from opposition politicians and from within his own party, with the Tory whip suspended, following his decision to join the reality TV programme.Mr Yousaf, who worked with Mr Hancock when he was UK Health Secretary during the pandemic, said there are far bigger issues to be concerned about than what jungle challenges he faces.During a visit to Bangholm Medical Centre in Edinburgh, Mr Yousaf said: ‘I couldn’t care less, frankly. I genuinely have so much else on my plate that I just couldn’t care less what he is doing, what he’s eating and what challenges he’s involved in.’I wish nobody any ill, I have to say, and I dealt with Matt Hancock when I was first in this role, but what Matt Hancock chooses to do is for Matt Hancock.’I genuinely, without any disrespect, couldn’t care less.’When asked if he could follow suit down the line, Mr Yousaf simply replied: ‘No.’Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 13:151667393271Liberal Democrats’ deputy leader Daisy Cooper said Matt Hancock was ‘choosing to feed his ego’ by heading to the jungle – calling his decision to appear on I’m a Celeb ‘selfish and shameful’.She added: ‘Even government ministers admit Matt Hancock is failing in his job. He is abandoning his constituents by going to the jungle and is shirking from his responsibilities. In any normal workplace he’d be sacked.’Matt Hancock should resign and let the people of West Suffolk choose an MP who will actually serve them and treat them with respect.’ It follows comments by transport secretary Mark Harper saying: ‘I think members of parliament should focus on doing their job, serving their constituents … perhaps Mr Hancock hasn’t made the right judgment in this case.’Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 12:471667388014Tony Blackburn, who won the first season of I’m A Celebrity in 2002, said he understands why people are finding it ‘difficult’ to comprehend Mr Hancock’s entry into the jungle.He told BBC Breakfast: ‘I understand people who lost their relatives, I myself lost my sister to Covid when I was being told I couldn’t go and see her, I didn’t manage to get to her funeral so I can understand people being angry about that.’On the other hand I can understand why he’s going in there. He’s now a backbencher, a lot of MPs have gone into reality shows and of course a lot of people will say this is our chance to get our own back because they can vote him to do the most appalling bush tucker trials.’Of course he is going in there to talk about dyslexia as well and some of the money he’s being paid is going to go to charity. It’s a very, very tricky one.’The 79-year-old broadcaster said he believes Mr Hancock is probably going on to show a different side to him, but he insisted the reality show is ‘tough.’He said: ‘Some people go in there to show a different side to them, I think that is probably what Matt Hancock is doing, I don’t think he has much future as an MP anymore so he’s looking forward to what he does after that.’I think it’s just the timing for him is bad, we’re in the middle of a crisis and people did lose relatives during his time at the NHS.’I loved being in the jungle, I thought it was absolutely fantastic and I think it changed me as a person very much for the better – but it is tough. It’s much tougher than it was.’On Tuesday, West Suffolk MP Mr Hancock insisted his ‘first priority’ is to his constituents as he flew over 10,000 miles to join the ITV show.Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 11:201667386814 Transport Secretary Mark Harper joined in the criticism of former health secretary Matt Hancock’s decision to join I’m a Celebrity.Mr Harper told Sky News: ‘The chief whip has made the position clear, which is he’s made a decision that going on I’m a Celebrity is not compatible with doing your job properly as a Member of Parliament, which is why the whip has been taken away, and as a former chief whip I completely support those decisions taken by my successor to support him standing down as an MP.’Pressed on whether Mr Hancock should stand down as an MP, Mr Harper said: ‘What he chooses to do in the future is a matter for him.’Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 11:001667385614Transport Secretary Mark Harper has insisted the Government is ‘committed’ to HS2.He made the comment after Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove suggested capital investment for HS2 will be reviewed.Mr Harper told Sky News: ‘The Government remains committed to delivering High Speed 2 on time and within budget.’The Cabinet minister was pressed on the decision in November 2021 not to extend the high-speed railway from the East Midlands to Leeds.He said: ‘We’re going back to our 2019 manifesto, looking at the commitments we made. We have got a commitment to make sure we can get high-speed trains to Leeds.’What we’re doing in my department, and what I’ve been briefed on, is we’re looking at all of the options that are available to do that.’I will be looking at all of the options to do that in light of the decisions we take in the Autumn Statement.’The decision to scrap the eastern leg of HS2 was announced in the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan, which stated that ‘we will look at the most effective way to run HS2 trains to Leeds’.Ahead of their autumn budget, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are said to be considering up to £50 billion of spending cuts and tax hikes to fill a gaping black hole in the nation’s finances.Discussing the possible cuts on Times Radio’s Sunday Morning With Kate McCann And Adam Boulton, Mr Gove was asked about the possibility of HS2 being cut.He said: ‘I am sure everything will be reviewed,’ before adding: ‘I do think HS2 is a significant investment.’The overall budget for Phase One of HS2, between London and the West Midlands, is £44.6 billion at 2019 prices.This includes a contingency of £9.6 billion.The Government latest cost estimate for Phase 2a, from the West Midlands to Crewe, is £5.2 billion-£7.2 billion at 2019 prices.The budget for Phase 2b – which will see the high-speed railway extended from Crewe to Manchester and from the West Midlands to the East Midlands – has not been confirmed.A budget of £55.7 billion was set in 2015.Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 10:401667384414Suella Braverman was simply showing the public she ‘gets’ the scale of the English Channel small boat crossings problem with her ‘invasion’ rhetoric, a cabinet minister has claimed.Mark Harper defended Ms Braverman over her inflammatory language, saying it was a ‘good thing’ for politicians to show they were in touch with the public.’Good thing’ for politicians to show they’re in touch, says cabinet minister Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 10:201667383003Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls has said he thinks Matt Hancock is ‘totally crackers’ to be taking part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!The MP was suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party on Tuesday after he was revealed as a surprise extra name added to the list of contenders for the ITV reality show.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.The former health secretary was suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party after deciding to join the ITV reality show.Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 09:561667382014Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls has said he thinks Matt Hancock is ‘totally crackers’ to be taking part in I’m A Celebrity – but said it would be ‘fun’ to see him asked to eat an ostrich anus. ‘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,’ said Mr Balls. ‘Secondly, this is the guy who was the health secretary during the pandemic, we have not had the inquiry yet.’ Mr Balls, who took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, said: ‘And if he gets the tokens and brings in the food, then he’ll be popular. But, you know, I mean, to eat an ostrich anus, live on television, while still a sitting MP and then ask the public do you want to see me do it again?’ ‘I think they might want to see him do it. … I just worry for him that, wrong programme, wrong timing, wrong place to do it from, shouldn’t be doing it, but you know, it’s gonna be fun, isn’t it? We’re looking forward to it.’Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 09:401667381115Matt 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.Watchdog for post-ministerial roles writing to ex-health secretaryMaryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 09:251667379399Asylum seekers at the processing centre in Manston are threatening to self-harm and go on hunger strike, according to a prison officers’ chief.Andy Baxter of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) warned of the potential for riots at the overcrowded Kent facility experiencing ‘pressure cooker’ conditions.Hundreds of migrants have been moved following overcrowding, with 4,000 people being held at the site. Some have spent weeks at the facility designed to hold people for 24 hours, Adam Forrest writes.’I think we’ll see a serious breakdown in public order’, warns prison officers’ chief Maryam Zakir-Hussain2 November 2022 08:56Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalismBy registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalistsAlready have an account? sign inRegistration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalismBy registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalistsAlready have an account? sign inMatt HancockHealth SecretaryWestminsterRishi SunakConservativeMatt Hancock, former cabinet minster, at BBC Broadcasting House after appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on 16 October 2022 in London, EnglandGetty ImagesPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in