MATT Hancock pocketed £50,000 top of his MP salary ahead of entering I’m A Celebrity, Sun Online can reveal.
The former Health Secretary is reportedly earning £400,000 from his controversial stint Down Under.
But we can disclose how he’s also been busy raking in cash from elsewhere.
According to official records, Mr Hancock earned £11,977 over the past 12 months by writing newspaper articles and making media appearances.
He also received £18,866 in donations from backers and enjoyed £3,479 of freebies – including free VIP tickets to the Brits.
The MP – criticised today by Rishi Sunak for taking part in the ITV show – also recently benefited from £11,638 worth of free travel and accommodation for a trip to Miami earlier this year.
It’s all on top of Mr Hancock’s MP’s salary which sees him earn £84,144.
Separately, accounts also show Mr Hancock has claimed £227,673 in expenses between February last year and January .
It means if his reported fee is right he’s received more than £750,000 in pay, perks and expenses over the last year.
Our story comes as Hancock faces up to a potentially expensive divorce battle with his wife.
Last night a source said: “Being booted out of the Cabinet might have been politically embarrassing, but it’s not done Matt’s bank balance any harm at all.
“He’s been raking it in for months – and the opportunities are only likely to increase once he comes home from the Jungle.
“But he’s probably going to need the money because he has a divorce battle looming and his political career appears to be over.”
I'm A Celebrity
Our story comes days after a leading showbiz agent revealed Mr Hancock could easily end up making more than £1m from his Jungle adventure.
Asked what he’d earn, Jonathan Shalit, the founder of the Intertalent Rights Group, predicted: “I would say on average, a million pounds a year. I mean, if he does well in I’m A Celebrity, you could get a million to a million and a half the next year, but equally that could drop down to £750,000.
“But someone like Matt can probably make about a million pounds a year, quite often on weekends. For example, he could probably do three or four appearances for £10-15,000 each minimum, if not up to £60-70,000.
“Plus a few endorsements, plus television shows, plus writing. He’s going to have a lucrative career if he goes down the celebrity route, but it will be at the expense of having to resign his seat.”
“I think the thing about Matt Hancock is, and I’ve met him a few times, he’s a really nice guy. And I think everyone who gets to meet him likes him.
“I suspect he’ll be liked a lot in the jungle, and I suspect he’ll go on to have a big media career. What I am surprised about and I say this to you, Mark, if you didn’t turn up to work tonight, and next week, you probably get fired.
“Yet, Matt Hancock’s an MP and he can go AWOL from his constituents for four weeks, not do his job and keep his job. What I find extraordinary is that you can become an MP and not have to sign an agreement to serve your constituents.”
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