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Hancock to face MPs in Westminster this week following I’m A Celeb stint




Matt Hancock will come face-to-face with angry MPs in Parliament this week for the first time since his controversial jungle jaunt as he returns to Westminster for the second reading of his Dyslexia Bill.

The MP is facing questions over his political future following his third-place finish on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! with his stint down under drawing criticism from colleagues including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Mr Hancock will also be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Bury St Edmunds.

Matt Hancock is returning to Parliament after his jungle jaunt. Picture: PA
Matt Hancock is returning to Parliament after his jungle jaunt. Picture: PA

Speculation has been mounting over whether he will have the Conservative whip restored and seek to stand again at the next election.

He appears to be up against a tight time frame, as Tory MPs have been given until December 5 – next Monday – to declare their intention to re-run at the next vote.

Mr Hancock is currently sitting as the Independent MP for West Suffolk, having been suspended from the Tory parliamentary party for flying 10,000 miles to Australia at a time when the Commons was sitting.

He had vowed to use the “incredible platform” offered by I’m A Celebrity to raise awareness of the learning difficulty.

A spokesman for Mr Hancock said: “The second reading of Matt’s Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill is in Parliament on Friday December 2 – just days after the final of I’m A Celebrity.

“By going on the show, Matt has raised the profile of his dyslexia campaign and has used the platform to talk about an issue he really cares about in front of millions of people.

“Matt is determined that no child should leave primary school not knowing if they have dyslexia.

“Matt will be making a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Suffolk and causes supporting dyslexia – including the British Dyslexia Association, off the back of his appearance.”

He has “no intention of standing down or stepping away from politics”, according to his team.

The PA news agency has been told the former health secretary will attend the second reading of his Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill in the Commons on Friday.

He is also expected to spend time in his constituency this week.