Matt Hancock's office are unable to confirm if ALL of the politician's fee for appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2022 will be donated to charity.
A spokesperson for the MP stated they "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" but refused to confirm if Mr Hancock will give away every penny he receives thanks to his stint in the jungle.
Representatives for Mr Hancock confirmed this evening that "the donations will be worked out on Matt's return" and explained how they are in contact with both the British Dyslexia Association and St Nicholas Hospice who they claim are "very happy with that arrangement".
But when asked multiple times if Mr Hancock plans to donate the entirety of his I'm A Celebrity appearance fee, rumoured to be around £400,000, the Mirror received no confirmation regarding exactly how much the MP intends to donate to charity and good causes.
Before leaving his constituents in West Suffolk to appear on the ITV reality TV show, Mr Hancock explained his reasons for heading Down Under.
"I thought long and hard about this — in fact I turned down I’m A Celebrity . . . twice this summer, but when they approached me for a third time last week, I had a change of heart," the MP wrote in The Sun on November 1.
"And no, it wasn’t the cheque that changed my mind. I will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk and causes supporting dyslexia off the back of my appearance. I will, of course, also declare the amount I receive from the show to Parliament to ensure complete transparency, as normal."
When approached for comment this evening, a spokesperson for Mr Hancock said: "The second reading of Matt's Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill is on Friday - just days after I'm A Celebrity... finishes.
"By going on the show, Matt has raised the profile of his dyslexia campaign and used the platform to get the nation talking 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."
Regarding how much of Mr Hancock's fee for appearing on the ITV show will be donated, representatives said: "We'll be speaking to the charities once Matt is back."
When pushed on if Mr Hancock plans to donate all his fee to charity, representatives stated again how "the donations will be worked out on Matt's return" and claimed both St Nicholas Hospice and the British Dyslexia Association "are very happy with that arrangement".
Chivonne Preston, Chief Executive Officer of the British Dyslexia Association, recently issued a statement which reads: "We are grateful when public figures like Matt use their platforms to draw attention to the barriers and challenges that the dyslexia community faces.
"Dyslexia is misunderstood and despite being incredibly common is often hidden; many people in our community feel like their struggles are unseen. We welcome opportunities to shine a light on dyslexia and inspire people to seek help and support."
