A vicar in Matt Hancock’s Suffolk constituency has hit out at the MP during a sermon.

Mr Hancock has traded in the House of Commons for a jungle, and his political colleagues for a group of celebrities, by appearing on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity – a decision that has angered many both inside and outside his constituency.

So far, the politician has been voted to compete in every trial since his arrival in Australia. 

The Rev Max Drinkwater, of St Mary’s, in Haverhill, Suffolk told his congregation: “Our MP has clearly neglected his constituents by going into the jungle.”

The statement was part of a sermon on the importance of accountability in leaders. 

He called for the MP to be “held accountable,”, saying: “I’ve been pleased to see lots of messages, including from our mayor, encouraging him to resign – this is part of that fight for justice.”

However, he used the statement to highlight a vital Christian teaching – redemption can always be found in Christ.

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Rev Drinkwater says he stands by the comments he made last Sunday.

He told the newspaper: “We have a rising cost of living and people are struggling with the uncertainty, making it very difficult to plan, to budget and to cope with the changes that are happening.

“Foodbanks were initially started to tide people over but for many local residents there is currently no hope of getting out of debt or poverty in the near future.

“As a vicar of the church, forgiveness is open to everybody but we’d expect to see a practical response to forgiveness by addressing some of the issues raised by his constituents.”