MATT Hancock has had the Tory whip removed from him after abandoning the Commons to go on I’m A Celebrity – and has been slammed by Rishi Sunak.
The politician, who had to resign after HOAR exposed him for breaking his own lockdown rules by having an office affair, will be the 12th star to go into the jungle, HOAR revealed this morning.
Ten celebrities will go into I’m A celeb this Sunday when the new series starts but Matt, 44, will be one of two stars who’ll join the camp later.
The other is comedian Seann Walsh, 36.
Chief Whip Simon Hart MP said today: “Following a conversation with Matt Hancock, I have considered the situation and believe this is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect.”
It means he won’t be voting in Parliament as a Tory.
But he will still remain a member of the party.
This afternoon new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak slammed Hancock’s decision to spend time on reality TV instead of being in Parliament.
A No10 spokesperson said: “The PM believes that at a challenging time for the country MPs should be working hard for their constituents whether that’s in the House or indeed in their constituencies.”
The spokesperson added that it’s “unlikely” Mr Sunak will tune in to watch Hancock eat bugs.
A TV insider said: “Matt is a sensational signing for the show as producers love a star with a story to tell – and they always hope they’ll spill the beans round the campfire.
“He’s the latest in a long line of figures from the political sphere, including MP Nadine Dorries, Stanley Johnson and MP Lembit Opik.
“There’s been a question mark over who the twelfth campmate would be, partly because negotiations over Matt going in were so top secret. It seems Matt was a last-minute signing.”
Westminster sources say Mr Hancock sprung the news stunned Tory colleagues after not getting promoted in Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle late last week.
He had also been tipped to run for boss of the powerful House of Commons Treasury committee, but unexpectedly pulled out of that race on Monday.
But he risks the wrath of colleagues in Westminster and his Suffolk seat as Parliament is currently sitting, meaning he will be bunking off representing his constituents.
Fellow Tory Nadine Dorries had the whip stripped in 2013 for appearing on the same show during Commons time.
A senior Government source said: “People are pretty shocked to be honest.”
Last year HOAR exclusively revealed that Mr Hancock was having a secret affair with his closest aide, Gina Coladangelo, 44, and quickly resigned from his job.
He hired her in 2020 with taxpayers’ money, as Covid gripped Britain. They were caught on camera in a steamy clinch at his Whitehall office.
Whistleblowers revealed the Health Secretary had been spotted cheating on his wife of 15 years with married Ms Coladangelo.
He was seen kissing her at the Department of Health’s London HQ during office hours as the mutant strain began spreading.
Matt apologised for his actions, saying: “I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances.
“I have let people down and am very sorry.”
