Calls have been made for Matt Hancock to quit I'm A Celebrity. . . Get Me Out of Here! and for him to donate his fee to a good cause. The Conservative MP, who was health secretary during the Covid pandemic, is reportedly earning £400,000 from his stint in the jungle.
He faced a backlash from the public and had the Tory whip suspended after it was revealed that he would be a late entry into the camp. Among those calling for Mr Hancock to leave and donate all of his £400k fee is TV star Charles Hanson, who is known for appearing on Antique's Road Trip and Bargain Hunt.
He tweeted: "Personally I think Matt Hancock should resign from I'm A Celebrity, and give the £400k to the NHS. ITV and Ant and Dec have misjudged our pandemic hangover mood and what we have all suffered (many with lost loved ones). Mr Hancock should be back at work and held to account."
The MP will have to declare the money he received for appearing on the programme and says he intends to make a "donation" to charity. Despite the criticism, some fans have warmed to him after he became tearful while confessing he just wanted a "bit of forgiveness" after controversies including Covid, his affair with Gina Colangelo, and breaking strict social-distancing rules.
Mr Hancock's appearance on the show sparked a petition against the MP, with Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice launching a campaign called 'He's no celebrity - stop Matt Hancock appearing on I'm A Celebrity'. The petition has more than 45,000 signatures and is growing day by day.
A huge banner was flown over camp this morning (November 15) which read 'Covid Bereaved Say Get Out of Here'. A spokesperson for the petition site 38 Degrees told The Mirror that the plane was "hired and sent out to make sure Matt gets the message."
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