Category Archives: POLITICS

Matt Hancock Admits He’s ‘Starting To Enjoy’ The I’m A Celebrity Bushtucker Trials

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Matt Hancock has admitted he is “starting to enjoy” the I’m A Celebrity Bushtucker trials as the politician completed his sixth consecutive challenge.

The public voted on Sunday night for the former health secretary, 44, to take part in another trial, which saw the MP for West Suffolk lying on his back in an underground pit as he attempted the Deserted Down Under.

Before the trial, he said: “I’m growing in confidence. I quite like a challenge anyway. So, you know, I don’t think I should say this … I’m starting to enjoy them and look forward to it.”

Hancock struggled through the challenge, which saw him given 11 minutes to unlock 11 stars while faced with spiders and cockroaches, as well as his biggest fear, snakes.

At one point Hancock told the show’s presenters, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly: “I’m just trying to talk about them (the snakes) as if they’re completely normal.”

Later Hancock got a fright, shouting: “Something’s going up my leg. It’s inside my shorts.”

It comes after he faced his fear of snakes in his previous trial House of Horrors, where a snake attempted to strike him at eye level.

Approximately four minutes into Deserted Down Under, Hancock said: “I can’t get this done.”

The politician became frustrated with himself during certain points of the challenge, and at one point the lights went out and he was left to complete the challenge in the dark.

At the end of the trial, it was confirmed that Hancock had won seven out of a possible 11 stars.

Reflecting on the experience and being in close proximity to snakes during the challenge, Hancock said: “I just managed to keep really calm. I had to be gentle with them, but they were fine.”

Adding: “My biggest fear [was snakes]. I kind of feel like I’ve faced that. I’ve conquered a fear.”

Hancock seemed disappointed with himself, commenting on the number of stars he managed to secure: “It’s not 11 is it? Fine for dinner, haven’t hit it out of the park.”

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UK Economy ‘Permanently Damaged’ By Brexit, Says Ex-Bank of England Official

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A former Bank of England policymaker has said that the UK economy has been “permanently damaged” by Brexit, because it reduced the country’s potential output and resulted in reduced investment into UK businesses.

In an interview on Bloomberg TV, Michael Saunders said that Jeremy Hunt’s “austerity budget” this week is a consequence of leaving the EU.

Saunders joined the rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee shortly after the Brexit referendum in 2016, and left the role in August this year.

He said: “The UK economy as a whole has been permanently damaged by Brexit. It’s reduced the economy’s potential output significantly, eroded business investment.

“If we hadn’t had Brexit, we probably wouldn’t be talking about an austerity budget this week. The need for tax rises, spending cuts wouldn’t be there if Brexit hadn’t reduce the economy’s potential output so much.”

On Sunday, Hunt denied that Brexit has made the UK poorer – despite the government’s own Office for Budget Responsibility saying it has.

The chancellor, who campaigned for Remain in the 2016 referendum, insisted the UK can make a “tremendous success” of leaving the EU.

He said it is important to consider the effects of Brexit “in the round”, and that Brexit brings both “costs” and “opportunities”.

The chairman of the OBR, Richard Hughes, last year said that Brexit would reduce the UK’s potential gross domestic product by 4% in the long term.

Saunders, who is now senior economist at Oxford Economics, added some of the ambitions behind Liz Truss’s failed mini-budget were correct in that “raising potential output is the big challenge”, but her “suggested solution to cut taxes and deregulate are wrong”.

He added: “I put the emphasis more on improving trade links with the EU, improving education, training, and also fixing this worrying rise in long-term sickness, which has been reducing the workforce so much.”

Saunders said the economy has faced a “challenging period with the Brexit vote, the depreciation of sterling, a long period of political uncertainty, the pandemic and then renewed political uncertainty”.

Last week, former Bank of England governor Mark Carney doubled down on his claims the move has taken a toll on the pound, suggesting the decision to leave the EU continues to play a part in the UK’s financial woes.

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Jeremy Hunt Denies Brexit Has Made The UK Poorer And People Are Making The Same Point

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Jeremy Hunt has denied that Brexit has made the UK poorer – despite the government’s own Office for Budget Responsibility saying it has.

The chancellor – who campaigned for Remain in the 2016 referendum – insisted the UK can make a “tremendous success” of leaving the EU.

He said it is important to consider the effects of Brexit “in the round”, and that Brexit brings both “costs” and “opportunities”.

Hunt told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he would set out “some of the ways that I think we can make a success of it” in Thursday’s autumn statement.

Asked if he denies Brexit has slowed the UK’s economic growth at home, Hunt said: “What I don’t accept is the premise that Brexit will make us poorer.

“I don’t deny there are costs to a decision like Brexit, but there are also opportunities, and you have to see it in the round.

“Literally within months of formally leaving the EU we had a once-in-a-century pandemic, which has meant the process of outlining what the opportunities are has taken longer, but I think we need to do that now.”

But Twitter users pointed out that the chairman of the OBR, Richard Hughes, last year said that Brexit would reduce the UK’s potential gross domestic product by 4% in the long term.

Last week, former Bank of England governor Mark Carney doubled down on his claims the move has taken a toll on the pound, suggesting the decision to leave the EU continues to play a part in the UK’s financial woes.

Downing Street has suggested Rishi Sunak is no longer dwelling on the “clear decision” made by the British people six years ago.

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Boris Johnson Could Be PM Again In 10 Months, Says Nadine Dorries

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Boris Johnson could return as prime minister in under a year, his close ally Nadine Dorries has said.

The former culture secretary said the mood amongst Johnson’s supporters had been “upbeat” after he abandoned his comeback bid last month.

“He will be back. I don’t know when, I don’t know how, I don’t know whether it will be 10 years or 10 months,” Dorries told The House magazine.

When Liz Truss resigned as PM last month, Johnson flew back to London to challenge Rishi Sunak for the party leadership.

But he dropped out of the contest after conceding Sunak was the overwhelming choice of Tory MPs.

Dorries said there was a “general air in the room” at a party thrown by Johnson to thank his supporters of “people saying he will be back”.

She said Johnson was using his time out of No.10 to “recoup” money spent while in office.

“I used to say that to be a prime minister you need to be rich because it costs you a lot of money,” Dorries said.

“It is part of the role to invite people to Chequers, but you have to pay for every cup of tea served out of your own pocket.”

In what will be seen as a pop at Sunak, the close ally of Johnson added: “So unless you are a multimillionaire, it is a problem.”

As prime minister, Johnson earned £161,401 per year.

During that time he accepted a £15,000 gift of a Caribbean holiday from a Conservative donor who co-founded Carphone Warehouse.

The Downing Street flat was also refurbished at a cost of £200,000, paid for by Tory donor Lord Brownlow.

Since standing down, he has accepted £50,000 in from the family of Tory donor Lord Bamford.

In early October he earned £135,000 for giving a speech in the United States to insurance brokers.

In a recent interview with Sky News, Johnson – who remains an MP – would not be drawn on his future plans, saying only he was “happy doing what I’m doing”.

Earlier this week he delivered a speech at the Cop27 climate change summit in Egypt.

His decision to attend the gathering was widely seen as forcing Sunak to U-turn and also fly to the meeting.

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Chris Moyles Calls Out Matt Hancock’s Plea For ‘Forgiveness’ On I’m A Celebrity

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Matt Hancock has been called out by Chris Moyles after the ex-health secretary explained he is “looking for a bit of forgiveness” by appearing on I’m A Celebrity.

The MP made the plea after being confronted by fellow campmates as he admitted he made a “mistake” and regrets the actions that led to his resignation.

Journalist Charlene White passionately explained how a relative died during the first coronavirus wave, and that his excuse “doesn’t really cut it” for many affected families.

Hancock broke coronavirus social distancing rules during the pandemic by having an affair in his ministerial office with aide Gina Coladangelo, and has said it was caused by the fact he “fell in love”.

While his explanation drew sympathy from some in the jungle, radio star Moyles was more cynical. “Forgiveness for what, Matt?,” he said away from Hancock. “What are you sorry for?”

It came as the sitting MP faced eating camel’s penis, sheep’s vagina and cow’s anus during Friday’s episode.

After the challenge, Hancock was questioned by his campmates about his affair.

Hancock, who resigned as health secretary in June 2021, said: “It was a mistake, because I fell in love with somebody. That’s why I apologised for it.”

TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas said: “It’s that kind of, you just do it and then afterwards it’s like, ‘Oh I’m sorry, I’m sorry’.”

Hancock replied: “No, because it’s bigger than that.”

Loose Women star White said: “It’s massively bigger than that. My aunt died from Covid in the first wave.

“So, we couldn’t go to the hospital to go and visit her. I had to sit by myself in the church at her funeral. We couldn’t hug each other because we were following guidance.

“And I get that you fell in love, I understand all of those things, but sorry for a lot of families like mine doesn’t really cut it.”

Hancock replied: “Yeah. Well, there you go. That’s one of the reasons that I regret it as much as I do.”

Speaking to White, he added: “Do you know what it is actually, what I’m really looking for is a bit of forgiveness, that’s what I’m really looking for.”

Douglas said: “I nearly cried then.”

Hancock replied: “So did I. We all make mistakes. I made a pretty big one.”

The exchange prompted both White and Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver to give him a hug, to which the actress added: “That took balls Matt to say that.”

But in a scene where Moyles and Douglas were talking one-on-one, he said: “Forgiveness for what, Matt? What are you sorry for? Are you sorry for being caught? Sorry for having an affair? Sorry for making bad decisions? Sorry for lying? What?”

He added: “If you’re going to be real. I’m trying to be as real as I can. When I think he’s not being real, it’s bugging me, I don’t know why. We’ve all made mistakes. You put your hands up. You’re honest. If you’re at that point where you genuinely feel that bad, you go, I’m sorry. You take it. I’m sorry. And he’s trying to portray that he’s being totally honest. It’s eating away at me.”

The MP joined the cast on Wednesday after facing much criticism over his decision from the public and fellow politicians.

The public voted for Hancock and Culture Club’s Boy George to take part in the Bushtucker trial, marking the politician’s third consecutive challenge since arriving in camp on Wednesday with comedian Seann Walsh.

Sitting opposite each other at a Mexican-themed jungle cafe called La Cucaracha Cafe, meaning The Cockroach Cafe in English, Hancock first faced a fish-eye taco which he said tasted “very fishy”.

Hancock had to drink an entire glass of blended meal worms accompanied with a witchetty grub garnish – which he described as “absolutely disgusting” branding the texture “horrible”.

The Tory MP said eating the tip of a camel’s penis was “soft and crunchy”, and described the thought of eating a sheep’s vagina as “disgusting”.

After being served a cow’s anus, he added: “The texture’s terrible and all the time you’re thinking about what you’re eating. I don’t recommend it as a main course.”

Co-host Ant McPartlin joked: “We’ll take it off the menu, thank you for that.”

For the final star, Hancock had to eat a cockroaches and blended cockroach dip.

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Ukrainian Flags Raised In Kherson After Russian Retreat

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Ukrainians flags have been flown in the key city of Kherson after Russia abandoned the only regional capital it had captured since its invasion in February.

Video footage posted to social media showed the yellow-and-blue national flag being raised at the regional administration building.

An EU flag was also visible in the pictures as Ukrainian troops were greeted by joyous residents in the centre of Kherson on Friday.

Dozens of Ukrainians have been filmed cheering and chanting victory slogans in Kherson’s central square, where the apparent first Ukrainian troops to arrive snapped selfies in the crowd at the end of more than eight months of occupation.

Ukraine’s defence intelligence agency said Kherson was returning to Ukrainian control and ordered any remaining Russian troops to surrender to Ukrainian forces entering the city.

“Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes! Glory to the nation!” one man shouted in another video.

Russia said it had withdrawn 30,000 troops across the Dnipro River without losing a single soldier, but Ukrainians painted a picture of a chaotic retreat, with Russian troops ditching their uniforms, abandoning weapons and drowning while trying to flee.

Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russian invasion of Ukraine.

PA Graphics via PA Graphics/Press Association Images

Ukrainian officials have not confirmed the city was back in Ukrainian hands.

A spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said “an operation to liberate Kherson” and the surrounding region of the same name was underway.

“It will be possible to talk about establishing Ukrainian control over the city only after an official report by the general staff” of the Ukrainian army, Andriy Yusov told The Associated Press.

Ukrainian intelligence urged Russian soldiers who might still be in the city to surrender in anticipation of Ukrainian forces arriving. “Your command left you to the mercy of fate,” it said in a statement. “Your commanders urge you to change into civilian clothes and try to escape from Kherson on your own. Obviously, you won’t be able to.”

The final Russian withdrawal came six weeks after Russian president Vladimir Putin illegally annexed the Kherson region and three other Ukrainian provinces, vowing they would remain Russian forever.

Moscow’s forces still control about 70% of the Kherson region following the pullback ordered amid a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The Kremlin remained defiant on Friday, insisting the withdrawal in no way represented an embarrassment for Putin. Moscow continues to view the entire Kherson region as part of Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Ukrainian officials were wary of the Russian pullback announced this week, fearing their soldiers could get drawn into an ambush in Kherson city, which had a prewar population of 280,000. Military analysts also had predicted it would take Russia’s military at least a week to complete the troop withdrawal.

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Kwasi Kwarteng Says He Told Liz Truss To ‘Slow Down’ On Economic Reforms That Crashed The Markets

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Kwasi Kwarteng has revealed he told Liz Truss to “slow down” with her radical economic agenda as the ex-prime minister was moving at “breakneck speed” after the disastrous mini-budget.

In his first interview since his ousting, the ex-chancellor says he warned her of being out of No 10 within “two months”.

The “slow down” claim is likely to raise eyebrows as two days after the mini-budget – which included plans to scrap the 45p income tax rate paid by the highest earners, cut stamp duty, reverse the rise in national insurance and cancel a planned rise in corporation tax – he told the BBC there was “more to come”.

Kwarteng also criticised the then-prime minister’s “mad” decision to sack him for implementing her tax-cutting agenda.

Truss ended up resigning after only 44 days in office, with her economic measures swiftly ripped up by new chancellor Jeremy Hunt and her successor in No 10, Rishi Sunak.

Kwarteng refused to apologise for the financial turmoil unleashed by his and Truss’s disastrous mini-budget, but acknowledged “there was turbulence and I regret that”.

He said the “strategic goal was right”, but “I think we should have had a much more measured approach”.

He said he bore “some responsibility” for the timetable of the mini-budget, but that Truss “was very much of the view that we needed to move things fast”.

“But I think it was too quick,” he added.

“Even after the mini budget we were going at breakneck speed. And I said, ‘You know, we should slow down, slow down’.”

“She said, ‘Well, I’ve only got two years’ and I said, ‘You will have two months if you carry on like this’. And I’m afraid that’s what happened.”

On September 23, Kwarteng announced the biggest raft of tax cuts for half a century.

The mini-budget triggered turbulence in the financial markets, sending the pound tumbling and forcing the Bank of England’s intervention.

Asked if he wanted to say sorry to the people facing extra costs in re-mortgaging, Kwarteng said: “I don’t want to relive the past.”

He added: “I do feel sorry, actually, for the people who are going through this difficult time in terms of re-mortgaging.

“I’m not going to wash my hands of what we did, I think the strategic goals (were) the right thing, but as it said, the delivery and implementation, there was no real tactical plan, there was no real timetable for it and I think we should have done that.”

The ex-chancellor said he first learned of his firing via a tweet as he travelled to a meeting with Truss in Downing Street.

“I can’t remember whether she was actually shedding tears but she was very emotional,” he said.

Describing his thinking at that moment, he said: “This is mad. Prime ministers don’t get rid of chancellors.

“I think I said to her at the time, ‘This is going to last three or four weeks’.

“Little did I know it was only going to be six days.”

Kwarteng added: “She can’t fire me for just implementing what she campaigned on. And, you know, we had a conversation.

“And I think it was very much the view that somehow she would survive if I took the fall on that.”

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‘You Were Grabbing Booty, Bruv’: Matt Hancock’s Excuses Called Out On I’m A Celebrity

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Matt Hancock’s excuse for breaking his own Covid rules has been called out on the latest episode of I’m A Celebrity.

The Tory MP, 44, was forced to quit as health secretary in June 2021 after breaking coronavirus social distancing rules by having an affair in his ministerial office with aide Gina Coladangelo.

The West Suffolk MP joined the cast of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! on Wednesday, entering the camp with comedian Seann Walsh after facing much criticism over his decision from the public and fellow politicians.

Speaking to comedian Babatunde Aleshe, Hancock discussed how his life had changed after his affair became public.

“It was really tough,” he said.

“I messed up and I fessed up. I resigned and it’s no excuse but I fell in love, right? That also had a lot of other consequences obviously.”

Referring to the leaked CCTV footage that proved the relationship, Aleshe responded, “You didn’t just ‘fell in love’ you were grabbing booty bruv”, to which Hancock responded “oh give over”.

Asked whether he was still with Coladangelo, he replied: “With Gina? Yeah very much so, yeah, totally.

“That’ll be the best thing about being kicked out, seeing her on the bridge.”

Asked about his resignation by his campmates on Thursday’s episode, Hancock said he had resigned because he understood how people felt about him.

TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas told him as they did chores around the camp: “I want to say this morning as I don’t like to leave things in…

“A lot of things that happened with you during the times, which does make it difficult because people are angry and upset – emotions are running high.

“We are not going to ever exclude anyone. We want to make sure that everyone’s a family, but if it does feel tough for the first few days, I’m sure you understand why.”

Hancock replied: “That’s very good of you to say that.”

Douglas continued: “It was hard. A lot of people had difficult times.

“And then to see that people that had kind of set the rules had then broken them, I think was a big slap in the face for everyone.”

Hancock replied: “Look, I know how people felt. That’s why I resigned, right? I know how people felt and so good on you for saying that, thank you.”

<img class="img-sized__img landscape" loading="lazy" alt="The Sun newspaper with the story and pictures of Matt Hancock appearing to kiss his adviser Gina Coladangelo.” width=”720″ height=”480″ src=”https://www.wellnessmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/you-were-grabbing-booty-bruv-matt-hancocks-excuses-called-out-on-im-a-celebrity-2.jpg”>
The Sun newspaper with the story and pictures of Matt Hancock appearing to kiss his adviser Gina Coladangelo.

Kirsty O’Connor – PA Images via Getty Images

The episode also saw Hancock take part in the latest Bushtucker Trial, Tentacles of Terror, in which he was trapped inside a octopus-shaped cage full of underwater critters.

The MP was tasked with collecting 11 numbered stars in order as the structure was lowered into the water, managing to do so and winning full rations for the camp.

As he began his trial, co-host Ant McPartlin asked him: “You must have met a few snakes in your time in Westminster.”

As Hancock made his way back to the camp, comedian Walsh and soap star Sue Cleaver discussed his decision to enter the Australian jungle.

Defending him, Walsh said: “That man will have a very different account of what he did to what we all think happened and there will be reasons.

“I’m not justifying anything that that guy did or certainly what that government… the decisions they’ve made, but f*** being in his job when that was going on.”

Cleaver replied: “I totally, totally agree with you, but the choice after everything that happened and the impact on everybody at home and families and people in homes to make a choice to come into I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! does not sit well with me.

“He’s got constituents back at home, he’s a serving member of parliament.”

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Trump Reportedly ‘Livid’ And ‘Screaming At Everyone’ Over Election Results

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Donald Trump is apparently not in good spirits after Tuesday night’s midterm upset.

According to CNN’s Jim Acosta, an aide to the former president said he was “livid” and “screaming at everyone” on Wednesday after what Republicans hyped up to be a red tsunami turned out to be more of a ripple. As of Wednesday afternoon, Republicans appeared poised to win control of the House, but the fate of the Senate still hung in the balance.

And though Trump wasn’t on the ballot, more than one-morning headline dubbed him the election’s biggest loser. Democrats outperformed Republican nominees he endorsed, and voters largely rejected candidates who parroted his election-denying rhetoric.

To add fuel to the fire, Florida governor Ron DeSantis ― Trump’s likely rival for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 ― won reelection convincingly, despite attacks and threats from Trump.

According to Acosta, a Trump aide said Trump’s handpicked contenders were “all bad candidates”.

Trump on Monday said he planned to make a “very big announcement” on November 15, widely expected to be news that he is mounting another bid for the White House. However, amid fallout and finger-pointing over the disappointing election results, some Republicans have suggested Trump should delay it.

The aide told Acosta it’s unlikely Trump would do so because it’s “too humiliating to delay”, but there are too many unknowns at this point.

Trump was fuming, in particular, over the loss of Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania to Democrat John Fetterman, The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman reported. He reportedly blamed anyone who advised him to support the celebrity physician, including his wife, Melania Trump.

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Charlene White Is Everyone As Matt Hancock Explains Why He Joined I’m A Celebrity

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Matt Hancock’s justification for taking part in I’m a Celebrity while still a serving politician has prompted an amazing reaction from campmate Charlene White.

The former Tory health secretary made his first appearance in the jungle on Monday night, much to the bemusement of stars on the show, as he suggested he was only there because there is now “stability” in UK politics.

Before joining the ITV programme, the West Suffolk MP had come under fire for his decision to travel to Australia, especially since parliament is still sitting.

At one point, he was challenged by White, a journalist and TV presenter, about the move.

“Why are you here?,” she asked.

Hancock replied earnestly: “There are so few ways in which politicians can show that we are human beings.”

White then shot a look – in silence – that spoke volumes.

She continued to press Hancock on the public reaction to his decision.

Hancock had told White: “If I can use this to sort of peel myself back a bit and just be me, it’s better.”

She replied: “But I can imagine it would not have gone down well at all at home? You have to expect that because parliament is still sitting, we’re not in recess, you know…?”

He told her: “I genuinely think that because we’ve now got sort of stability, that is…”

White said: “We’ve had stability for all of five minutes, Matt.”

Hancock replied: “Rishi’s great, he’ll be fine.”

<img class="img-sized__img landscape" loading="lazy" alt="When Matt Hancock says he wants to show politicians are "human beings".” width=”720″ height=”401″ src=”https://www.wellnessmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/charlene-white-is-everyone-as-matt-hancock-explains-why-he-joined-im-a-celebrity-2.jpg”>
When Matt Hancock says he wants to show politicians are “human beings”.

Asked by White if he could understand if people were not happy about his appearance, he said: “I understand that but I also.. of course I get that, right. But I also just think that sometimes you’ve got to do things differently.”

Prime minister Rishi Sunak was among those to join the criticism of Hancock, who had the Conservative Party whip removed following the announcement that he would be participating.

The prime minister said he was “very disappointed” in the MP’s decision.

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