MPs could reportedly be blocked from making appearances on reality shows following Matt Hancock’s stint on I’m A Celebrity.
The Daily Mirror reports that an Early Day Motion, known as the “Bushtucker Bill”, has been tabled and calls for Westminster’s rules to be updated to prevent MPs from taking part in programmes for weeks at a time while Parliament is sitting.
Hancock sparked fury among many, including the Prime Minister and Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, when he appeared on ITV’s reality show.
Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine, who tabled the motion, said: “This Bushtucker Bill is designed to stop MPs following in Matt Hancock’s shameful footsteps to the jungle.”
The LibDem accused him of “deserting his constituents for the sake of his ego”. “In any other job he’d have been sacked for going AWOL”.
As a result of his actions, the former health secretary was suspended from the Conservative Party.
The motion published today said: “This house believes that there should be a change to the house’s code of conduct to set a limit to the number of days members can spend being paid to take part in the recording of entertainment television programmes abroad while the house is sitting.”
Tory MPs have until Monday to decide whether to seek re-election. Unless Hancock has the whip restored by then, the Conservatives could be forced to choose a new candidate for the seat, which he won with a majority of over 23,000 in December 2019.
His spokesman has said he “has no intention of standing down or stepping away from politics”.
READ MORE: Hancock’s not out of the woods yet on scandals during Covid
Jardine added: “Matt Hancock spent days crawling through snakes instead of trawling through casework.
“He won food for campmates while his constituents wondered how they will feed their families this winter.
“People facing soaring bills deserve MPs who listen to their concerns and stand up for them, not use their position to appear in reality TV shows.”
Hancock’s spokesman said: “Matt’s excellent team continues to deal with constituency matters, as they already do while he’s in Westminster.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel