LOOSE Women’s Denise Welch hit out at Matt Hancock after The Celeb Report revealed he had signed up for I’m A Celeb.
The ex Coronation Street actress shared her frustration on Twitter after finding out the disgraced former Health Secretary – who resigned for breaking lockdown restrictions last year – was due to enter the jungle.
Loose Women’s Denise Welch slammed Matt Hancock for signing up to I’m A Celeb
The Celeb Report revealed disgraced former Health Secretary Matt, 44, will join I’m A Celeb as a latecomer
Denise raged on Twitter today: “I bet all those people living with the pain of not being ‘allowed’ to be with their loved ones in the last years of their lives will be so excited to see Matt f*****g Hancock in the jungle!! How dare he!!!”
Angry constituents lashed out at the politician for bunking off his Suffolk seat after The Celeb Report exclusively revealed he will head into the jungle as a latecomer.
One local raged at the ex-Minister on Facebook: “How can you justify flying off to Australia to do a reality TV show when you are supposed to be here working for the constituents you represent?
“You are an absolute disgrace.”
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This afternoon Mr Hancock had the Tory whip removed – which means he won’t be able to vote in Parliament – and he has been slammed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
A No10 spokesperson said: “The PM believes that at a challenging time for the country MPs should be working hard for their constituents whether that’s in the House or indeed in their constituencies.”
Others have called for the former Health Secretary to lose his MPs salary while he is in the jungle.
However, taking a break from Parliament to go on holiday, do a second job or appear on reality TV show is permitted.
There are no rules around taking time off when Parliament is in session or even any formal requirements for doing the job.
MPs are not employees and they are free to spend as much or as little time in Parliament as they like.
This means there is nothing stopping Matt from continuing to draw from his annual salary of £84,144 while on his sunshine break.
As such, on top of his I’m A Celeb pay deal, if Matt lasts the full three weeks in the jungle he will have received just under £5,000 in MP salary – despite being absent from the Commons.
The politician, who had to resign after The Celeb Report exposed him for breaking his own lockdown rules by having an affair in the office, will be the 12th star to go into the jungle.
Defending Hancock’s decision, a close political ally said: “I’m A Celeb is the most watched show on TV.
“There are many ways to do the job of being an MP. Whether he’s 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. Where better to show the human side of those who make these decisions than with the most watched programme on TV?
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“Politicians like Matt must go to where the people are – particularly those who are politically disengaged. Matt’s of the view that we must embrace popular culture. 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.
“Matt will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk, and he will, of course, declare the amount he receives from the show to Parliament to ensure complete transparency, as normal.”
The former Health Secretary pictured with Gina Coladangelo before he resigned over their affair last year and breaking lockdown rules
