London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Former UK health secretary Matt Hancock suspended by Tories over role in reality TV show

Former UK health secretary Matt Hancock suspended by Tories over role in reality TV show

Ex-Cabinet minister heads to the Australian jungle later this month.
Former U.K. health secretary Matt Hancock has been suspended as a Conservative MP after signing up for the popular reality TV show I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!

Hancock will lose the Tory whip and must sit as an independent MP after agreeing to join a cast of celebrities eating insects in the Australian jungle. It is unclear how much he will be paid.

The government chief whip, Simon Hart, said it was a “serious” matter for Hancock to leave the U.K. for an extended period while Parliament is sitting, purely to take part in a TV show.

Andy Drummond, deputy chairman of the West Suffolk Conservative Association — Hancock’s local Tory organization — told the Press Association he was looking forward to seeing the former Cabinet minister “eating a kangaroo’s penis.”

But an ally of Hancock described it as an “incredible opportunity for him to engage with the 12 million Brits who tune in every single night,” and said he intends to use the platform to promote his dyslexia awareness campaign.

They added Hancock had turned down an initial approach “because of the instability government was facing,” but that he will now take part because “the government is stable” under Rishi Sunak’s leadership.

Hancock’s Tory colleague Nadine Dorries was also suspended from the party for appearing on the same program in 2012. She had the whip restored six months later and was eventually promoted to the Cabinet.

Hancock served in the Cabinet as health secretary throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, before losing his job in June 2021 after conducting an extra-marital affair in contravention of lockdown rules.

He had been seeking a route back into frontline politics by standing to be chairman of the Commons Treasury select committee. He has now withdrawn from that race to immerse himself in a different kind of wilderness.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×