Matt Hancock has returned to Parliament for the first time since his controversial stint on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
The former health secretary was all smiles as he was captured on camera arriving in Westminster on Friday morning following his spell on the ITV reality show.
Mr Hancock made his first appearance in the House of Commons chamber, where he is later due to debate his Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill.
Today I’m calling for universal dyslexia screening in every primary school and improved teacher training for dyslexia
It is an outrage that only 1 in 5 dyslexic children leave school identified & that teachers do not need training to support dyslexic children
This must change pic.twitter.com/sO8hTcMLO3
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) December 2, 2022
In a video posted to Instagram, Mr Hancock said: “I’m back in the office in Westminster today after my day in the constituency yesterday.
“I’ve got my Bill in front of Parliament today to have better screening for dyslexia.”
He also invited social media users to “ask me anything” on the platform.
Mr Hancock’s return to his day job, two days after arriving back in the UK from Down Under, comes as speculation mounts over whether he will have the Tory whip restored and seek to stand again at the next election.
He is currently sitting as the independent MP for West Suffolk, having been suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party for choosing to head to the Australian jungle at a time when the House was sitting.
The MP is expected to tell Parliament that the current approach to dyslexia “must change”.
“It is not only an issue of morality, but also of both social and economic justice,” he will say.
His arrival turned heads, but his triumphant return from Trials kept Camp smiling. Matt Hancock is leaving the Jungle in third place 🧡 #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/Xx4YxX7Mbv
— I'm A Celebrity… (@imacelebrity) November 27, 2022
While his jungle jaunt drew criticism from colleagues, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Mr Hancock has “no intention of standing down or stepping away from politics”, according to his team.
Tory MPs have been given until Monday December 5 to declare their intention to re-run at the next general election, expected to be in 2024.
The second reading of Mr Hancock’s Private Member’s Bill on dyslexia is third on Friday’s order paper, meaning it is likely to be heard before the end of business.
As is normal procedure, other MPs can join the debate and representatives for both the Government and Opposition will have their say.
Some might take the opportunity to have a dig at Mr Hancock’s TV escapades since it will be their first chance to put their views to him directly in the House.
A serialisation of Mr Hancock’s Pandemic Diaries is to be published by the Daily Mail later on Friday, with a first glimpse revealing that a plan to release “thousands” of prisoners was considered during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The former Cabinet minister has also given an “extensive” interview to the newspaper, in which he talks about “falling ‘deeply’ in love with former aide Gina Coladangelo”.
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 here