Christine Hamilton has slammed Matt Hancock as "shameless" ahead of his 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' stint.
Christine Hamilton has hit out at 'shameless' Matt Hancock ahead of his I'm A Celebrity stint
The 72-year-old media personality - who finished third on the first-ever series of the ITV show in 2002 - admitted she is getting "more and more angry" thinking about the former Health Secretary entering the jungle while he is being "paid by the taxpayer to represent his constituents".
Christine - who is married to former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton - said: "He's doing it for self-promotion. He's got a book coming out. His ministerial career has hit the buffers. What he seems to forget is he's still a very well-paid member of parliament, paid for by the taxpayer to look after his constituents.
"The idea that he can swan off to the jungle for a month – he’s not going into the camp for a week or so, so he’ll be living in five-star, apparently, luxury while he’s being paid by us, the taxpayer, to represent his constituents.
"I think it's shameless, it’s appalling."
Matt - who was diagnosed with dyslexia aged 18 - has revealed one of the reasons he wants to take part in the ITV reality show is to raise awareness of the learning difficulty, but Christine questioned how much ITV will show of him talking about dyslexia.
Speaking on Lorraine Kelly on her ITV show 'Lorraine', Christine added: "Let's be fair to Matt Hancock. He says it's going to give him a chance to talk to millions of people, far more people who watch what goes on in parliament, about his dyslexia campaign.
"Has he watched the show? Is ITV going to give prime time to his thoughts on dyslexia? But that's his excuse, that's his shower curtain. But I think it's deeply shocking."
Lorraine also poked fun at Matt, admitting he is "not very good with hidden cameras", in reference to him previously coming under fire after he was caught on camera kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when social distancing guidance was in place.
She joked: "He has got previous ... when you talk about cameras exposing him, has he not? Yes, he’s not very good with hidden cameras, is he?"
Matt was suspended from the Conservative Party on Tuesday (01.11.22) after it was revealed he was entering the Australian jungle-based show.
Simon Hart, the Chief Whip, said: "Following a conversation with Matt Hancock, I have considered the situation and believe this is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect."
The West Suffolk MP has since insisted he is taking part in the show to "talk directly" to those who "aren't always interested in politics", and to "show the human side of politicians".
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