Campaigners have flown a plane carrying a strong message for Matt Hancock over the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! jungle. The plane, bearing a 35ft banner with the words "Covid bereaved say get out of here!", circled the Australian camp for two hours on Tuesday.
The banner in protest at the former health secretary was organised by the campaign group 38 Degrees, who are working with Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice. The organisation said a noise complaint suggested it didn't go unheard in the jungle.
Matthew McGregor, the CEO of 38 Degrees, said on Twitter as he shared images of the banner: "Overnight, @38degrees flew a plane over the @imacelebrity set with a message from the @CovidJusticeUK families that Matt Hancock couldn't ignore."
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Matthew added: "We know it wasn't missed because there was a formal noise complaint from the ground! #ImACeleb." Since making his debut last Wednesday, the 44-year-old has faced widespread criticism over his decision to take part in the ITV reality show.
In June last year, the MP for West Suffolk, who had the Tory whip suspended with immediate effect after it was revealed he had signed to join the series, resigned as health secretary after he was caught breaking coronavirus social distancing guidance by having an affair in his ministerial office with aide Gina Coladangelo. During the show, he has since said it was a "mistake" and he "fell in love," adding that he was looking for "a bit of forgiveness".
Matthew McGregor, chief executive of 38 Degrees, said: "No one has forgotten how Matt Hancock conducted himself during the Covid-19 pandemic, not the general public, not his campmates, and certainly not those who lost loved ones.
"Our message emblazoned across the skies makes crystal clear to Matt Hancock, you should be representing the people of West Suffolk and giving Covid Bereaved Families the answers they deserve, rather than playing games for dingo dollars and plastic stars."
During his time in the jungle, Matt has been voted to take part in six consecutive Bushtucker trials which have seen him dodging various critters and facing his fear of snakes to secure as many stars as possible to feed the camp. At the end of last night's episode he cheered as he was told that he had been spared from doing a trial for the first time since his controversial arrival.
A spokesperson for Matt said: "Matt continues to support the Covid inquiry and he'll continue to meet all the deadlines. "Matt has already handed over his phone and given full access to all his emails and text messages, when requested by Parliament.
"The second reading of Matt's Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill is just days after I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! finishes. By going on 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 leave primary school not knowing if they have dyslexia."
38 Degrees tweeted: "You can run to the jungle, @MattHancock, but you can't hide from reality. We flew a plane above@ImACelebrity's camp with a message from @CovidJusticeUK. A noise complaint suggests it didn't go unheard." ITV are not commenting.
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