Matt Hancock has set back a decade the cause of showing people the positive side of having dyslexia, a Shadow Cabinet Minister has warned.
Labour 's Peter Kyle, who is dyslexic, said it was “hurtful” for the ex-Health Secretary to claim he is going on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! to raise awareness of dyslexia.
The Shadow Northern Ireland secretary accused him of instead “disappearing off to earn hundreds of thousands of pounds” while “dragging down the reputation of all politicians”.
Mr Kyle told the Mirror: “ Matt Hancock has attracted a storm of controversy by turning his back on Parliament and embracing reality TV. Now he is searching for a way to shield himself from criticism.
“He is going on the show as a quest to rehabilitate his image. This is not a quest to educate the public on living with dyslexia.
“There is nothing that can happen in that jungle which will present dyslexia in a more positive light.”
Mr Hancock faces a growing backlash over his decision to bunk off Parliament to fly 10,000 miles around the world to take part in the ITV show.
Voters in his West Suffolk constituency have voiced their anger, while he has had the Tory whip suspended for shirking his duties at Westminster.
The disgraced MP has attempted to defend himself, by claiming he decided to go on the programme as he wants to “use this incredible platform to raise awareness” of dyslexia.
But Mr Kyle said it was wrong to attempt to drag dyslexia into the row.
“Once again dyslexia is associated with failure, controversy, people who others don't aspire to be and that makes me angry,' he argued.
“It’s hurtful because it sets us back. I think Matt Hancock has set the cause of recognising the positive attributes that can come with dyslexia back a decade.
“It's all about him, not about dyslexia.”
Mr Kyle left school without any qualifications but decided to return to the classroom when he was 25. He went on to attend the University of Sussex, where he left with a degree and a PhD.
The Labour MP was told as an adult he had the reading age of an eight-year-old, but he says having dyslexia has taught him “persistence and how to overcome barriers”.
“Sitting in groups of people who didn't quite get me and having to try to encourage them to see me in a different way. These are all skills that dyslexia has given me,” he said.
“I can say with all certainty that I'm not an MP despite having dyslexia, I'm an MP and in the shadow cabinet because I'm dyslexic.”
Mr Kyle added: “I think the power is being comfortable and known for being dyslexic but just cracking on with your job, being the best you can and showing that you can succeed as a dyslexic.
“That is far more empowering than seeing a failed politician washed up in a reality TV show, putting out a press statement, saying he's helping young people with dyslexia. How exactly?”
Mr Hancock’s spokesman last night said the ITV programme will finish just days before MPs debate legislation he has put forward in Parliament to introduce dyslexia screening in primary schools.
He said: “This is an amazing opportunity for Matt to raise the profile of his dyslexia bill and to talk about an issue he really cares about in front of millions of people."
The spokesman added that charities including the British Dyslexia Association have praised Mr Hancock for drawing attention to the challenges faced by those with dyslexia.
