A petition to stop Matt Hancock from appearing on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! has more than 36,000 signatures. The number of people who have signed the online petition doubled overnight, having gained momentum since it was set up on Tuesday (Nov 1).
The petition on website 38 Degrees calls on ITV to "do the decent thing" and reverse its decision to send the former Health Secretary into the famous jungle camp. It also claims his appearance on the hit reality series will "cause real pain and anguish to those of us who lost loved ones to Covid-19".
A statement on the petition, which was started by Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, reads: "Matt Hancock isn’t a 'celebrity', he’s the health secretary who oversaw the UK having one of the highest death tolls in the world from Covid-19 whilst breaking his own lockdown rules."
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Some of the people who have signed it shared their reasons. Stacey H wrote: "ITV should hang their heads in shame paying him for 'good telly moments'."
Jonathan S added: "This man is shameless at every level. Its diabolical that ITV even consider him a celebrity. Would be better if he appeared in the Chamber of Horrors!"
Andy T commented: "I hope someone is compiling a list of the advertisers who are supporting this so we know which retailers to avoid. This will have more impact on ITV than a petition." Lindsey D posted: "He's an absolute waste of space who's austerity and sheer lack of compassion and self awareness has caused distress to so many! WHY would we want to see him on a light hearted entertainment show?"
Mr Hancock defended his decision in an article for The Sun this week, claiming the show is "a great opportunity to talk directly to people who aren’t always interested in politics". He wrote: "It's our job as politicians to go to where the people are – not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster.
"There are many ways to do the job of being an MP. Whether I’m in camp for one day or three weeks, there are very few places people will be able to see a politician as they really are."
The MP, who was suspended from the Tory party when it emerged he had signed up for the show, also said he wanted to use the "incredible platform" to raise awareness of dyslexia. He also insisted it "wasn’t the cheque" that made him decide to join.
Mr Hancock reportedly will receive one of the largest pay packets in the long-running show's history, which it is claimed could be around £400,000. He can continue to collect his taxpayer-funded salary as an MP while he is in the jungle.
A spokesperson for Mr Hancock said: "Matt will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk and causes supporting dyslexia off the back of his appearance. He will also declare the amount he receives from the show to Parliament to ensure complete transparency, as normal."
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