MP Matt Hancock has said his decision to appear on I’m a Celebrity was motivated by a desire to showcase his “human side” and to use reality TV as a platform to “deliver important messages to the masses”.
Writing in the Sun newspaper to defend his decision, the former health secretary said that “although some may think I’ve lost my marbles”, he believed politicians “must wake up and embrace popular culture”.
He wrote: “While there will undoubtedly be those who think I shouldn’t go, I think it’s a great opportunity to talk directly to people who aren’t always interested in politics, even if they care very much about how our country’s run. It’s our job as politicians to go to where the people are — not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster.”
It comes as Matt Hancock faced furious calls to quit as an MP after flying out to star in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity show as relatives of Covid victims accused him of “cashing in” on his appalling legacy as Health Secretary that left Britain with one of the highest death tolls in Europe.
Many seem to think this tweet really nails the situation:
When Matt Hancock has to stick his head into a tank of poisonous ants, Ant and Dec should tell him he can’t have a mask like everyone else as they’ve run out of protective equipment. So he’ll have to make do with a bin liner.
— Mark Steel (@mrmarksteel) November 2, 2022
