Matt Hancock has declared that Liz Truss’ political career is “over” as he spoke about her short time in office with his I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! campmates.
Truss became the UK’s shortest-serving prime minister when she resigned after just 45 days in office.
Rishi Sunak succeeded Truss in No 10 after an expedited leadership contest, with Penny Mordaunt having been his only declared challenger.
Boris Johnson returned from a holiday in the Caribbean amid speculation that he could seek to return as Conservative Party leader.
Discussing the tumultuous period with his I’m a celeb campmates, Hancock revealed he told Johnson that it was “not his time”, urging him to back Sunak.
Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver asked Hancock what he thought had gone wrong for Truss in her premiership.
“In a way, they were unlucky, in that globally, interests rates all went up,” he responded.
“They were also bringing in a financial statement where you say, ‘we’re going to do all these expensive things and we’re not going to say how we’re going to pay for them’.”
Soap star Cleaver, 59, queried: “Where does that leave her now?”
Hancock replied: “Her political career is over. No ambiguity at all.”
The former health secretary was also quizzed by campmates over Boris Johnson and the attempt he made to return as prime minister following Truss’ resignation.
Comedian Seann Walsh asked Hancock: “Were you a Boris die-hard?”
“Look, I was very supportive of him, but it was time. When it was time to go, it was time to go,” said the MP of Johnson.
Journalist and broadcaster Charlene White asked the former minister what his first thought was when Johnson flew back from his holiday in the Caribbean in seeking to return as Conservative leader.
Hancock told White: “I texted him and I said, ‘You Know I think you’re wonderful but it’s not your time. The best thing for the country is that you should back Rishi and that we should get him in post as soon as possible.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group arranged for a flight over the I’m a Celebrity camp with a message to Hancock.
The group stated that Hancock is not a celebrity and criticised his handling of the pandemic.
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