I’m A Celebrity petition to BAN Matt Hancock from show reaches 44k signatures just days before MP enters camp

A PETITION to ban former health secretary Matt Hancock from entering the I'm A Celeb jungle has hit over 40,000 signatures.

The MP has caused a stir since the announcement he'd be entering the ITV show.

With the public making their disapproval clear, an online petition has seen a surge of signatures calling for Hancock to be banned from the I'm A Celeb camp.

The petition named: "He's no celebrity - stop Matt Hancock appearing on I'm a Celebrity", was created by the "Covid-19 Bereaved Families For Justice", who stated his appearance on the show would cause "pain" and "anguish" for those who lost loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reaching 20,000 signatures in just four days, the petition explains why Hancock shouldn't be allowed to join the reality TV cast, stating: "Matt Hancock isn’t a ‘celebrity’, he’s the health secretary who oversaw the UK having one of the highest death tolls in the world from Covid-19 whilst breaking his own lockdown rules."

The description goes on to say: "Families were ripped apart by Matt Hancock’s actions, and turning on the TV to see him being paraded around as a joke is sickening."

"Matt Hancock was at the very centre of decisions such as locking down late, allowing large scale sporting events to go ahead as the virus ran rampant and failed to get our healthcare workers the PPE they needed.

"On top of that he was fired after breaking the rules he helped set."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Matt told The Sun: "The second reading of Matt's Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill is just days after I'm A Celeb finishes.

"Matt doesn't expect to serve in government again, so this is an amazing opportunity for him to raise the profile of his dyslexia campaign and to talk about an issue he really cares about in front of millions of people.

"Matt's desperate to get his dyslexia bill through to ensure no child leaves primary school not knowing if they have dyslexia. Matt wasn't diagnosed until he left school and it was a lightbulb moment.

"He will discuss dyslexia, his bill and his campaign at every opportunity. Doing this in front of millions of people will hopefully create a lot of support for the campaign."

Despite the I'm A Celeb bosses defending their decision to welcome to former health secretary down under, the Prime Minister has shared his discontent at the politician joining the show.

PM Rishi Sunak stated: “I was very disappointed.”

Hancock, who resigned after The Sun exposed him for breaking lockdown rules, has had his Tory whip removed after being slammed by MPs for "abandoning his constituents" to go on I'm A Celeb.

Chief Whip Simon Hart MP explained: “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.”

The petition has led the public to share their feelings regarding the MP, with many discontented with the idea that the politician will be gracing the reality TV show.

One wrote: "Hancock must not be allowed to personally profit from his criminal negligence/corruption/incompetence that saw 100s of 1000s people die needlessly during the Covid-19 pandemic. He belongs in court, not on TV."

Another wrote: "ITV should hang their heads in shame paying him for 'good telly moments.'"

Despite the criticism, I'm A Celeb viewers were left furious after the MP didn't appear in the first episode, ensuing an onslaught of angry tweets from the show's fans.

One person wrote: "Where tf is Matt Hancock that’s the only reason im watching #ImACeleb."