Hancock faced criticism from many directions Tuesday, as Libby Wiener reports A sign bearing a message for Matt Hancock has flown over the I’m a Celebrity… Get me Out of Here camp in Australia, disparaging his appearance on the show. The former health minister’s controversial appearance in the jungle has sparked a backlash from people who lost loved ones during the Covid pandemic. Hancock came under fire for his handling of the virus outbreak and later resigned after CCTV footage was leaked that revealed his extramarital affair and showed him flouting Covid restrictions. A sign bearing the words: “Covid mourners say get out of here!” flew over the jungle where the 44-year-old politician and his partners star in the ITV show, according to a campaign group. Back in the UK, Parliament’s standards watchdog said dozens of complaints had been made about Hancock’s decision to appear on the show. “A member of the public contrasted the dignity of veterans on Remembrance Sunday with a former Secretary of State and they said this person was expecting a buffet of animal genitalia and they wondered what had happened to the dignity of public office,” The Standards’ Kathryn Stone told the MPs on Tuesday. Covid Bereaved Families for Justice UK said the group 38 Degrees, which works on social justice campaigns, dropped the Hancock sign over the camp on its behalf. A petition on the website 38 Degrees, calling for Mr Hancock not to appear on I’m a Celebrity, had gathered more than 44,000 signatures by Tuesday. The Covid bereaved families group posted photos of the airborne sign on Twitter. Lobi Akinola, who lost his father to Covid, said on behalf of the group: “Matt Hancock is not a ‘celebrity’, he is the former health secretary who oversaw the UK has one of the highest death tolls in the world from Covid-19, while flouting its own lockdown rules. The 35-foot banner circled the camp for two hours. Credit: PA “He is the man we wrote to over a year ago asking him to pass his personal gmail emails on the handling of the pandemic to the new health minister ready for the Covid inquiry. He is the man who didn’t even answer us. “He said the investigation will set the record straight, but he can only get to the truth if he has the evidence he needs. He should be at home sending these emails instead of being rewarded with £400,000 for not doing his job. “His transparent attempt to sell more books and clean up his public profile failed, as did the ‘protective ring’ he dared to suggest he had placed around nursing homes.” Matthew McGregor, CEO of 38 Degrees, said: “No one has forgotten how Matt Hancock behaved during the Covid-19 pandemic: not the general public, not his teammates and certainly not those who lost loved ones . “Our message emblazoned in the skies makes it crystal clear to Matt Hancock: you should be representing the people of West Suffolk and giving Covid Bereaved Families the answers they deserve, instead of playing games for Dingo dollars, plastic stars and a 400,000 salary pounds”. 38 Degrees said the plane carrying a 35m banner flew over the base camp, just north of Murwillumbah on Australia’s east coast, from 11am. until 13:00 AEST on Tuesday. ITV has been approached for comment. It comes after Mr Hancock spent six consecutive appearances on the show carrying out stomach-churning tests as the audience repeatedly nominated him to complete challenges such as being covered in snakes and creepy crawlies. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also criticized his former Conservative Party colleague for entering the jungle. Mr Sunak warned that politicians must earn the respect of citizens and should do so by putting their constituents and their country “at the forefront of what we do”. Asked by reporters whether Mr Hancock’s decision to go into the jungle and eat a kangaroo’s penis or a wallaby’s anus was “derogatory to politics” during his trip to Indonesia for the G20 summit, the prime minister he replied: “I think politics at its best can and should actually be quite noble. I think most people who enter politics, of any party, do so because they care about public service. Rishi Sunak holds a press conference with political journalists on a government plane en route to Bali, Indonesia Credit: Leon Neal/PA “It’s the duty of all members of parliament to do the things that earn people’s respect and that serve your constituents very well, make a difference to their surgeries, it’s how you conduct yourself.” Mr Sunack confirmed he had not watched the show but said he was disappointed Hancock had gone into the jungle and supported the decision to strip him of the Tory whip, meaning Hancock is now an independent MP. Mr Sunak said the country was facing huge challenges and “that’s what we need to focus on and that’s why I was disappointed when he went on the show”. A spokesman for the MP said: “Matt continues to support the Covid investigation and will continue to meet all deadlines. “Matt has already handed over his phone and given full access to all his emails and text messages when asked by Parliament. “The second reading of Matt’s Screening Dyslexia and Teacher Training Bill is just days after I’m A Celebrity finished. “By taking part in the show, Matt hopes to raise the profile of his dyslexia campaign and will use the platform to talk about an issue he really cares about in front of millions of people. Matt is determined that no child should to leave primary school without knowing if they have dyslexia.” Want a quick and special update on the biggest news? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out what you need to know
