I'm A Celeb's Matt Hancock has broken Ministerial Code, watchdog rules

I’M a Celebrity’s Matt Hancock has broken the Ministerial Code’s rules on MPs jobs, a Parliament watchdog has ruled.

Parliament's revolving door authority, Acoba, ruled the former Health Secretary had breached the rules by appearing on the show - and on SAS Who Dares Wins.

Chairman Lord Pickles has written to Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden, officially reporting Mr Hancock over the breach.

Former ministers are required to approach Acoba for advice before taking up any job within three years of leaving government - which Mr Hancock failed to do.

But Acoba has no power to impose punishments on ministers or former ministers who break the rules - so whether he is punished is down to Mr Dowden.

In his letter, Lord Pickles wrote: "Mr Hancock did not seek Acoba's advice before signing up for two television series - ITV ’s ‘ I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here’ and Channel 4 ’s ‘SAS Who Dares Wins’."

He said he didn't think he had to seek advice from the Watchdog (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

In his correspondence with Lord Pickles, Mr Hancock claimed he did not believe he needed to seek advice as ‘Each of these separate activities is not a "longer term arrangement", but are each individual appearances, albeit substantial ones’.

But Lord Pickles said the guidance was "clear" that a series of media events would require an application.

He added: "No matter the potential limitation in the risk, this is not for applicants to determine and so not seeking advice is a breach of the government's Rules here."

And writing to Mr Hancock, he said it was "a breach of the government's Rules and the requirements set out in the ministerial code."

But, Lord Pickles wrote, "given the transparent nature of Mr Hancock's role, which is limited to appearing on these shows...I believe it would be disproportionate to take any further action in this case."

Mr Hancock, who responded to Lord Pickles on November 4, by which time he was already in Australia, but hadn't yet entered the jungle, said: "I appreciate your enquiry is on the process, but it's worth noting that on the substance of the matter, these media appearances in now way conflict with any of my past work in Government, and are a way to speak to a wider audience about my campaigns in Parliament."

To date, nobody has ever been sanctioned for breaking ACOBA rules.