Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Long-term future in question but not everyone is quite so critical
Actions taken by Rosie Duffield during lockdown have “called her judgement into serious question”, says the leader of Canterbury’s Liberal Democrat Group. Pointing out that the majority of the population has adhered to lockdown rules despite “great personal hardship and a devastating toll on the economy”, Cllr Michael Dixey said: “It is deeply disappointing to learn that our constituency Labour MP has broken the rules.
“She has not only undermined the effort to reduce the spread of the virus but also called her own judgement into serious question. “The matter will not be soon forgotten.”
Ms Duffield made history at the 2017 election when she ousted stalwart MP Sir Julian Brazier, ending his 30-year tenure in the Canterbury seat – which had been held by the Conservatives for more than a century.
The mother-of-two increased her majority 10-fold at December’s election, to retain the hotly-contested seat.
But how her lockdown breaches will impact her popularity in the long-run remains to be seen. Online, hundreds of members of the public have expressed outrage at her actions, branding her “the ultimate hypocrite” and calling for her to resign. And Professor Richard Scase – a world-leading business forecaster and lecturer at the University of Kent’s School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research – warns that constituents may not be quick to forgive.
“I don’t think what she’s done is so horrific to constitute her resignation as an MP,” he said. “But I think the electorate tends to be a very unsympathetic, unforgiving bunch of people.
“If she transgresses again, I think there will be a rather different reaction.”
But some have praised Ms
Duffield for her admission of guilt, while simultaneously criticising Dominic Cummings, who has refused to admit any wrongdoing over his apparent breaches. North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale was quick to criticise Mr Cummings after news of his alleged wrongdoings broke last month.
But when questioned about Ms Duffield’s actions, Sir Roger said: “This is a private matter, fundamentally, between her and her family, and not something I think that members of Parliament ought to become involved in.”
Comparing Ms Duffield’s situation to Mr Cummings’, he said: “She is not in a position of great power. “She put her hand up, acknowledged she’d done wrong, and apologised, and as far as I’m concerned that’s the end of it.”
The Gazette has reached out to a number of key figures within both the Labour and Conservative parties, but many have declined to comment, also describing Ms Duffield’s situation as a “private matter”. Among them was leader of the city council and Conservative Group, Rob Thomas; chairman of Canterbury Conservative Association, Simon Cook; and Tory councillor for Tankerton, Neil Baker. Anna Firth, the former Tory MP hopeful who ran against Ms Duffield in December’s election, also declined to comment.
So too did Labour Group leader Cllr Alan Baldock, and Canterbury Labour Party chairman Ben Hickman. But others argue the MP should act as a role model to her constituents in this unprecedented time. City councillor Ashley Clark (Con) said: “Rules are rules and people should stick to them, particularly those people who are expected to set an example - the rule makers, those in Parliament. “Rules apply to everybody from all parties. I feel a lot of people have been let down.” On whether Ms Duffield should stand down as MP, Cllr Clark added: “At the end of the day that’s a decision she has to make.
“But how can you be an effective member of Parliament if you’ve lost credibility for your conduct?”