Matt Hancock has revealed he advised Boris Johnson not to run for prime minister again after Liz Truss resigned – and claimed her political career “is over”.
On Tuesday night’s episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, the former health secretary was asked about Ms Truss’s premiership and the race to replace her.
It came ahead of Ofcom confirming on Wednesday that it had received 1,968 complaints about the show between Tuesday 8 November – when it was confirmed by presenters Ant and Dec that Mr Hancock would be entering the jungle – and Monday 14 November.
The majority of complainants, around 1,100, objected to the MP’s presence on the show, the broadcasting watchdog said – but other viewers expressed concerns about how the politician was being treated by his fellow contestants.
In Tuesday’s episode, Mr Hancock was asked by fellow campmate Sue Cleaver “want went wrong” for Ms Truss during her brief stint as prime minister.
He replied: “In a way they were unlucky, in that globally interest rates all went up just at the time that they were also… bringing in a financial statement where you say, ‘We’re going to do all these expensive things and we’re not going to say how we’re going to pay for them’.”
Cleaver, 59, then asked: “Where does that leave her now?” The 44-year-old responded: “Her political career is over. No ambiguity at all. Totally finished.”
But pressed further on why she was chosen over Rishi Sunak initially, the former minister said: “I think that was all about how Boris got kicked out… people seeing Rishi as wielding the knife against Boris.”
Probed again, another campmate asked him if he was a “Boris diehard”.
Hancock said that he was “very supportive of him, but when it was time to go, it was time to go”.
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Hancock says he is ‘looking for forgiveness’
He revealed that after it emerged Mr Johnson was returning from a holiday abroad, seemingly to gear up for a leadership campaign, he advised him not to.
“I texted him and I said ‘you know I think you’re wonderful, but it’s not your time, you should do what’s best for the country and back Rishi’.
“‘And we should get him in post as soon as possible’.”
Ofcom to assess complaints
Meanwhile, the broadcasting watchdog is looking into the complaints it has received so far, just over a week into the series.
A spokesperson said complaints would be assessed against Ofcom broadcasting rules before a decision is made on whether to investigate.
The 1,968 complaints were made between between 8 and 14 – Ofcom’s latest reporting window.
The regulator said in a statement: “It’s worth being aware that under our rules, in principle – and taking into account freedom of expression – there’s no ban on any particular person taking part in programmes.
“However, if the mere presence of a person is likely to cause offence, we would expect broadcasters to take steps to mitigate or justify that offence. How they do that editorially is up to them.”
‘Waiting for a buffet of animal genitalia – what has happened to dignity of public office?’
Ofcom is not the only body to have received complaints about Mr Hancock’s reality TV appearance.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone told MPs on Tuesday that her office had received “dozens of complaints” about the former health secretary’s decision to take part in the show.
“It raises really important questions about members’ proper activities while they’re supposed to be fulfilling their parliamentary duties and representing their constituents,” she said.
“One member of the public contrasted the dignity of veterans on Remembrance Sunday with a former secretary of state and they said this individual was waiting for a buffet of animal genitalia and they wondered what had happened to the dignity of public office.”
COVID bereaved protest over jungle
Protest banner flown over the I’m A Celebrity jungle. Pic: @38Degreees/Twitter
Before Tuesday’s episode aired, campaigners flew a banner over the Australian campsite that read: “COVID bereaved say get out of here!”
The organisation for relatives of people who died of coronavirus was supported by the group 38 Degrees in flying the banner.
Both claim it was seen by those in the jungle.
The prime minister is among those criticising Hancock for taking part in the show.
Speaking to reporters travelling with him to the G20 summit in Bali, Mr Sunak said: “I think politics at its best can and should be actually quite noble.
“You have to earn people’s respect, right. It is not given just because you are a politician…
“It is incumbent on all members of parliament to do the things that earn people’s respect and that’s serving your constituents really well, making a difference to them in surgeries.”
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Earlier in Tuesday’s episode, one contestant remarked that it was strange not to have access to the news.
Presenter Scarlette Douglas said: “I wonder if Rishi’s still in power.” Hancock immediately replied: “Yeah he will be.”
The ex-minister, who has had the whip removed and says he will not get back into government after going on the show, was not selected to do a bushtucker trial for the first time on Tuesday.
After six challenges in a row, former Radio 1 Breakfast Show presenter Chris Moyles was chosen instead.