For starring on a reality TV program, Matt Hancock, the British health minister during the coronavirus outbreak, was suspended by Britain’s ruling Conservative party on Tuesday.
The 44-year-old MP will miss sessions of Parliament to film the newest season of ITV’s “It’s Me, I’m A Celebrity Take Me Away From Here!”
The program pits a collection of well-known people—some more well-known than others—against the elements and tasks including snakes and other slithery creatures in an Australian jungle.
Nadine Dorries, a former culture minister, and Hancock’s Tory colleague took part in the show’s previous season and was made to consume an ostrich’s anus in 2012.
At the time, Dorries received criticism for appearing on the program without permission and was suspended. She received the first vote-off that season.
When informed about Hancock’s involvement, Conservative chief whip Simon Hart, who is in charge of maintaining party discipline, took the same course of action.
I’ve thought about the circumstance, and I think this is a serious enough matter to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect,” he continued.
According to a spokeswoman, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who publicly rejected Hancock after being surrounded by fans following his appointment last week, also disagrees.
The prime minister thinks that MPs should work hard for their people during this difficult moment for the nation, the spokesperson said. He noted that Sunak was “unlikely” to watch.
Hancock’s involvement was justified by one of his fans, who claimed the program will help connect with the “politically disengaged” and demonstrate “the human side” of politicians.
This year’s celebrities include England World Cup rugby champion Mike Tindall, whose wife Zara won a medal in the Olympics for showjumping and is a niece of King Charles III.
The most well-known is Boy George, the DJ, and singer for Culture Club, who is a vegan and is said to have made a bargain with producers not to consume any meat.
Throughout the coronavirus outbreak in Britain, Hancock was a prominent public person who was eventually forced to resign after breaking the rules of social distance.
He was seen in a heated embrace with Gina Coladangelo, his advisor and a former classmate, on leaked security camera footage at work.
After that, he split up with his wife and is reportedly trying to make a political comeback.
The book by Hancock, “Pandemic Journals Insider Account of Britain’s Conflict with Covid “, is scheduled for release in December.
