Matt Hancock suspended as Tory MP over I'm A Celebrity stint

Former UK health secretary Matt Hancock has been suspended from the Conservative party after he was announced as a reality TV contestant.

Hancock, who was filmed breaking lockdown rules in an office tryst with an aide, was today revealed as a contestant on the latest series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Filming will mean he leaves his constituency and Westminster to travel to the Australian jungle while parliament is sitting.

Tory whips have now confirmed that he has been suspended as a Conservative MP.

The ITV show begins on November 6, with fellow Tory MP Nadine Dorries and ex-Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale amongst previous contestants.

Conservative chief whip Simon Hart 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."

SNP MP Pete Wishart MP commented: "It speaks volumes that Matt Hancock would rather be stranded in a remote jungle eating kangaroo testicles than spend a moment longer on the Tory benches at Westminster, as Rishi Sunak's government lurches from one crisis to another."

The BBC reported that Hancock will use his TV time to promote his campaign on dyslexia, with a source close to the MP telling the broadcaster that he "doesn't expect to serve in government again".