Matt Hancock will end his political career by appearing on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, furious Conservative MPs predicted, as the former health secretary faced accusations he was trying to cash in on Covid misery.
The MP was suspended by the Conservative Party after it emerged he will spend what could be weeks in the Australian jungle instead of in parliament.
Families of those who died during the pandemic have launched a petition demanding ITV remove him from the reality TV show.
The deputy chair of his local association also angrily attacked the MP's decision, saying, in reference to the programme's notorious "bushtucker trials": "I'm looking forward to him eating a kangaroo's penis. Quote me. You can quote me that." Mr Hancock has insisted he "hasn't lost his marbles" as he heads to Australia despite widespread criticism. The West Suffolk MP claimed his "first priority" is to his constituents as he flew more than 10,000 miles to join the ITV show, which starts on Sunday.
Mr Hancock defended his decision in an article for The Sun, arguing it is "a great opportunity to talk directly to people who aren't always interested in politics".
He said reality TV is an "honest and unfiltered" way to communicate with voters.
"It's our job as politicians to go to where the people are - not to sit in ivory towers in Westminster," Mr Hancock 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.
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