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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dan Bloom

Matt Hancock accused of 'not bothering' to raise dyslexia yet on I'm A Celeb

Matt Hancock has been accused of “not bothering” to mention dyslexia once so far on I’m a Celebrity - despite boasting it was the reason he joined the show.

In his two episodes so far the former Health Secretary has dunked into slime and bugs, and talked about his affair with his aide, saying: “I messed up and I fessed up”.

But not a second of him talking about dyslexia has been aired by ITV yet - despite him bunking off Parliament to jet to the Aussie jungle.

Asked why he was there on his first night, he replied he had a “sense of adventure” and wanted to “use this to peel myself back a bit and just be me”.

He added: “The honest truth is because there’s so few ways in which politicians can show we’re human beings.”

Some fans have pointed out the ITV show might have edited out mentions of dyslexia so far.

The show has refused to confirm or deny if that’s the case.

A spokesman said: “It is not possible to show everything that happens in camp due to time constraints, we're a 60-75 minute Entertainment show.

“It is always our intention to produce a show that is a fair and accurate representation of life in camp”.

But Mr Hancock’s team has yet not claimed he is trying to talk about dyslexia on the show and it’s being edited out.

Instead, we were told he had already raised the profile of dyslexia - partly because we were asking why he hadn’t brought it up yet.

Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said Mr Hancock was “missing in action” while claiming an £84,144 salary as an MP.

She said: “What’s worse is that his reason - to promote awareness for dyslexia - hasn’t even come to light.

He has talked about his affair with his aide, saying: “I messed up and I fessed up” (ITV)

“He’s not even bothered to mention it once. All his answers sound like he's just there for a popularity boost.

“Hancock, like all other MPs has a duty to his constituents: he’s failing in that duty.”

Mr Hancock is pushing a Private Member’s Bill that would ensure dyslexia screening in primary schools after he was only diagnosed at age 18.

Before they suspended him from the parliamentary party, he told whips he would “use his time in the jungle to promote his dyslexia campaign,” an ally said.

And the MP wrote: “I want to raise the ­profile of my dyslexia campaign to help every dyslexic child unleash their potential — even if it means taking an unusual route to get there . . . via the Australian jungle!”

Before they suspended him from the parliamentary party, he told whips he would "use his time in the jungle to promote his dyslexia campaign" (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

He has said he will donate to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk and causes including the British Dyslexia Association - but has said if it’ll be his entire fee, rumoured at £400,000.

A spokesperson for Matt Hancock said: "The second reading of Matt's Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill is just days after I'm A Celebrity... finishes.

“By going on the show, Matt has already raised the profile of his campaign as people are talking about dyslexia.

"Matt is determined that no child should leave primary school not knowing if they have dyslexia and he will use the platform to discuss an issue he really cares about in front of millions of people."

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