I'm A Celeb's Matt Hancock broke departmental code and oversight rules

Parliament's revolving door watchdog Acoba has ruled the former health secretary broke the rules by appearing on the show - and on SAS: Who Dares Wins

Matt Hancock broke the rules (

Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Matt Hancock of I'M a Celebrity broke Cabinet Code rules on MPs' jobs, says a Parliament watchdog.

Parliament's revolving door authority Acoba has ruled the former health secretary broke the rules by appearing on the show - and on SAS Who Dares Wins.

Speaker Lord Pickles has written to Cabinet Secretary Oliver Dowden, formally reporting the breach to Mr Hancock.

Former ministers are required to seek advice from Acoba before accepting a job within three years of leaving government, which Mr Hancock did not.

But Acoba does not have the power to impose sanctions on ministers or former ministers who break the rules - so whether he is punished is up to Mr Dowden.

In his letter, Lord Pickles wrote: "Mr Hancock did not seek Acoba's advice before signing on to two TV 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 should ask the Watchdog for advice (

Picture:

ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

In correspondence with Lord Pickles, Mr Hancock said 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, albeit substantial, appearances.< /p>

But Lord Pickles said it was 'clear' a series of media events would require an application.