Matt Hancock has been urged to donate his I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! fe e to support victims of Long Covid by a national charity.
The former Health Secretary is reportedly being paid £400,000 for taking part in the popular ITV show even though Parliament is in session - with campaigners calling for him to be booted out.
Today the boss of Covid Aid - which was set up to support people affected by the pandemic - said the anguish for Long Covid patients and those bereaved continues.
Michael MacLennan called on the former Tory cabinet minister - who had the whip withdrawn when it emerged he was going into the jungle - to give part of his fee to supporting Covid victims.
Mr Hancock has previously said he will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk, and causes supporting dyslexia.
Mr MacLennan said: "Millions have been battling with long-term symptoms as a result of Covid-19, and families who lost loved ones have been upset to see Matt Hancock on primetime TV moving on from the pandemic, while their struggle and anguish continues.
“As a charity dedicated to supporting everyone whose lives have and are being changed by the coronavirus pandemic, we urgently require funding to provide support this Christmas – we welcome any donations which will boost our efforts, and which recognise that the fight is far from over, especially with people being newly affected on a daily basis."
Latest government data reveals that 597 people died in England within 28 days of testing positive for Covid in the past week.
The official death toll since the start of the pandemic now stands at 208,630, and more than 5,000 hospital patients have the virus in England.
Mr Hancock's inclusion in this year's show sparked anger, with campaign group s 38 Degrees and Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice flying a banner over the camp calling for him to be removed.
The MP told fellow contestant Charlene White that he was "looking for a bit of forgiveness".
An inquiry into response to the Covid pandemic has been launched, and Mr Hancock can expect tough questioning over his actions while he was in charge of the nation's health.
Thousands died as the virus ripped through care homes after residents were released from hospital without being tested, and the government was criticised to being slow to respond to the virus and new variants.
Mr Hancock eventually stood down after footage was released in June last year showing him kissing aide Gina Coladangelo while social distancing rules were in place.
He told Ms White: “Do you know what it is actually, what I’m really looking for is a bit of forgiveness, that’s what I’m really looking for. We all make mistakes. I made a pretty big one.”
Following Covid Aid's call for him to a make a donation, a spokesperson for Mr Hancock pointed to his dyslexia campaigning.
They said: "The second reading of Matt's Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill is just days after I'm A Celebrity... finishes.
"By going on the show, Matt hopes to raise the profile of his dyslexia campaign and will use the platform to talk about an issue he really cares about in front of millions of people.
"Matt is determined that no child should leave primary school not knowing if they have dyslexia.
"Matt will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk, and causes supporting dyslexia - including the British Dyslexia Association, off the back of his appearance."
