I cannot defend parties taking place and am in no way tempted to try. Before I carry on, let me reiterate (because I am being asked by some people) that I was not at any of these events – nor any other parties. I obeyed the restrictions in the same way you did.
I completely understand people’s anger about the rules being broken by anyone, but particularly by the people who made the rules. I feel that anger myself. I well understand the sacrifices everyone made in not seeing friends and family members, including some that are sadly no longer with us. My deepest condolences go again to anyone who lost someone as a result of the pandemic.
In addition to anger, I feel embarrassment, because I know that myself and my MP colleagues (who also didn’t attend these events) are by extension being damaged by events we had no involvement in and are clear should not have happened.
When I was back home in Didcot this past weekend, I had lots of conversations on the doorsteps with people, in addition to reading the emails that have been coming in. Not everyone feels the same about this issue or what should happen as a result of it. However, a significant number of people I have heard from have said they want me to take some sort of action in advance of the investigation being completed.
The reason I won’t be doing this is because everyone – whoever they are – is entitled to have the full facts made public about what they are accused of and then be given the opportunity to take the action they think they should as a result. When there are so many allegations flying around, we are all entitled to know who did what, when, why and how. At the moment I have no more information than what has been in the papers and been said in Parliament.
In the meantime, be assured that I have regularly been conveying the views of constituents to my Government colleagues – their anger and upset; their experiences of not seeing loved ones or, worse, losing them; and what they think should happen. I entirely understand how people feel and I will continue to share their messages to me. I’m very sorry for the anger and upset this has caused.
