Is Matt Hancock still an MP?

MATT Hancock left many surprised as he was named as one of the contestants in this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.

As the former Health Secretary swaps his constituents for campmates, many after left wondering if he is still an MP. Here's everything you need to know.

Is Matt Hancock still a Member of Parliament?

On November 1, 2022, Matt Hancock was suspended from the Conservative Party.

It was announced that the former Health Secretary was joining the cast of ITV reality show, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here - a decision that led to his suspension from the party.

He has also been suspended from the party whip - a disciplinary move in parliament which means he has been kicked out of the Conservative Party but remains an MP.

Chief Whip Simon Hart MP 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."

Rishi Sunak's official spokesman also spoke on the matter, saying: "The PM believes that at a challenging time for the country, MPs should be working hard for their constituents, whether that is in the House or in their constituency."

The spokesperson added that it's "unlikely" Mr Sunak will tune in to watch Hancock eat bugs.

When Hancock returns from the show, he will sit as an independent in the House of Commons.

After Hancock resigned as Health Secretary on June 26, 2021, he remained as the MP for West Suffolk, however he will now represent his constituency as an independent.

He became an MP in May 2010 with a majority of 23,194 replacing Richard Strong in the position.

Hancock got his first junior minister role in October 2013 as Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise.

He was then appointed to the position of Minister of State for Business and Enterprise in July the following year.

In the same month he also became Minister for Energy.

Hancock then moved to the role of Minister for the Cabinet Office Paymaster General in May 2015.

He held that post until July 2016 when he was made the Digital and Culture Minister.

Hancock was then promoted to Secretary of State of the same department in January 2018.

He only held the post until July that year when he became Health Secretary.

Will he quit as MP for West Suffolk?

Despite being suspended as a Conservative MP, Matt Hancock will now represent his constituents as an independent, both during his time in the jungle and after.

A statement released by Mr Hancock's Parliamentary office said: "Matt has an excellent team working with him in West Suffolk, but producers have agreed that he can communicate with them if there's an urgent constituency matter.''

What did he say in his resignation letter as Health Secretary?

On June 25, 2021, it was revealed that Hancock had breached coronavirus social distancing restrictions with Gina Coladangelo - an adviser in the Department of Health and Social Care.

The Sun exclusively revealed that Hancock was having a secret affair with his closest aide, Gina Coladangelo, 44, after CCTV images shown him kissing and embracing her in his Whitehall office.

Following this, Hancock resigned as Health Secretary on the evening of June 26, 2021.

His letter of resignation said it has been the "honour of my life" to serve as Health Secretary.

His full letter of resignation said: "Dear Prime Minister, 

"I am writing to resign as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. We have worked so hard as a country to fight the pandemic.

"The last thing I would want is for my private life to distract attention from the single-minded focus that is leading us out of this crisis.

"I want to reiterate my apology for breaking the guidance, and apologise to my family and loved ones for putting them through this.

"I also need to be with my children at this time.

"We owe it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down as I have done by breaching the guidance.

"The NHS is the best gift a nation has ever given itself, and the dedication and courage of the NHS staff and the ceaseless work of the officials in the Department is something we should all be proud of.

"We didn't get every decision right but I know people understand how hard it is to deal with the unknown, making the difficult trade-offs between freedom, prosperity and health that we have faced.

"I am so proud that Britain avoided the catastrophe of an overwhelmed NHS and that through foresight and brilliant science we have led the world in the vaccination effort, so we stand on the brink of a return to normality.

"The reforms we have started in the health system will ensure it continues to provide even better care for people in years to come.

"We are building a better NHS which makes smarter use of technology and data, forming a new UK Health Security Agency, delivering positive changes to mental health care and will fix the problems in social care once and for all.

"Many times I stood at the podium in Downing Street and thanked the team - my own team, the NHS, the volunteers, the Armed Services, our pharmacists, GPs, the pharmaceutical industry and the whole British public who have made such sacrifices to help others.

"Those thanks are heartfelt and sincere so I must resign.

"It has been the honour of my life to serve in your Cabinet as Secretary of State and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved.

"I will of course continue to support you in whatever way I can from the back benches, and I would like to thank you for your unwavering support, your leadership and your optimism, particularly as we worked together to overcome this awful disease.

"Matt Hancock".