Matt Hancock has told his constituents he has abandoned them to appear on reality TV as he wants to “speak candidly to the nation”.
The shamed former minister faces a backlash from voters in his West Suffolk seat over his decision to appear in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
He has bunked off his job in Parliament to fly 10,000 miles around the world to take part in the ITV hit show.
In a letter to constituents who have contacted his office to complain, Mr Hancock suggested he was fulfilling his duties by fleeing to the jungle.
“While I fully understand your concerns and know there are those who don't think I should be going on the popular TV show, I wanted to respond to you at the earliest possible opportunity to explain why I have decided to go into the jungle,” he wrote.
“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 and where politicians can speak candidly to the nation.”
Mr Hancock will enter the jungle in tonight’s episode. The ex-health secretary will be seen crawling through dark tunnels and wading through sludge during his first trial.
A teaser shared by ITV ahead of the show showed the 44-year-old screaming as insects and thick liquid are poured on him from above.
Speaking ahead of his debut on the programme, Mr Hancock said: "I have never come across a snake at close quarters and so I am pretty worried about anything to do with snakes.
"I am not claustrophobic or at least I haven't been found to be but that's the thing about I'm A Celebrity - it is the unknown.
"I've watched the show over the years, I love how it gets down to the essence of people but it's really entertaining as well."
Addressing whether he thinks his colleagues in Parliament and the British public will be voting for him to do trials, he added: "I wouldn't be surprised if I end up doing some of the trials.
"I am hoping I can win some stars for the camp, but most of all I am looking forward to being myself."
He said that after the show he plans to return to Suffolk to hold a surgery with his constituents there, adding: "There are lots of different ways to communicate with the public and we (politicians) are wrong if we think you can only do that on the traditional political shows where you are mainly only talking to people who take an active interest in politics.
"It's important we engage with everyone including young people in who our politicians are and this programme is a good way to do that. I am looking forward to it."
Appearing on Sky News this morning, shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said his appearance on the show "demeans politics and the job that we do" adding: "Those people like Matt Hancock should remember it is a privilege to be a member of Parliament."
Mr Reynolds said he would not be watching the series "heavily" but would be tuning in to see how Mr Hancock was "getting on".
Asked whether he would vote for him to eat crocodile anus during the trials, he replied: "I think there will be a landslide across the country for Matt being volunteered for that kind of thing."
