Matt Hancock wants "forgiveness" after breaking his own lockdown guidance.
Matt Hancock wants forgiveness
The 44-year-old politician - who is currently taking part in 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!' - served as Health Secretary during the COVID-19 pandemic and had implemented lockdown rules across the country which prevented household mixing but was caught having an affair with aide Gina Coladangelo and has now described his actions to his campmates on the show as a "mistake."
He said: "No I did not break any lockdown rules. I didn't break any law! Guidance is guidance but it was my guidance, that's why...it was a mistake because I fell in love with somebody. It's true! In a way, lots of the campmates ask questions that the public has got as well so it's only respectful to give straight and truthful answers. That's why I'm apologising for it. It's bigger than just a sorry. Well, there you go and that's one of the reasons that I regret it as much as I do."
However, Matt - who was suspended from the Conservative Party after signing up for the show - was then quizzed by 'Loose Women' anchor Charlene White about his overall response to the pandemic and defended the decisions he made but claimed that he is looking for "forgiveness" through his appearance on the show.
Speaking on Friday's (11.11.22) episode of the show, he added: "The pandemic as a whole, I'm much more robust in my defence of it. PPE for instance, of course, I saw what happened too but that's because we needed masses more PPE and so did everybody else in the world. There's reasons so much was taken. And ultimately, those problems were caused by the virus and not the people who were trying to solve the problem.
"What I'm really looking for is a bit of forgiveness. That's what I'm really looking for. We all make mistakes. I made a pretty big one."
Following the comments, ITV newsreader Charlene, 42, joked that she could have been "knocked down with a feather" and was seen to give the MP a hug when he got emotional.
Speaking in The Bush Telegraph, she said: "Well, you could've blown me down with a feather. That was not what I was expecting at all. It is a very human reaction when you can see when someone is getting upset is to give them a hug."
Prior to the discussion, Matt took part in an eating trial with Boy George and had to eat a sheep's vagina, a camel's penis, as well as a cow's anus and brought back 11 stars for camp, with 'Coronation Street' star Sue Cleaver joking that she "appreciated" his efforts and wanted to "draw a line" under the political tension following his explanation.
"What I do appreciate is that you did eat a sheep's vagina for us. And life isn't black-and-white, we are all fallible and we all f***up! It was the elephant in the room and I was glad that he'd said us and that a line should be drawn beneath it. "
Following a public vote, Matt is to face his fourth consecutive Bushtucker trial on Saturday's episode but will this time team up with 'Hollyoaks' star Owen Warner as the pair tackle 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'-themed quiz titled 'Who Wants to Look Silly On Air?', which will see the campmates follow a game based on the ITV quiz show whilst being doused in various unpleasantries as their co-stars watch on from the sidelines.
Tagged in Boy George Sue Cleaver