Grieving widow’s disgust at No.10 ‘party’ outrage
FAMILY WERE AT RESTRICTED FUNERAL FOR COVID VICTIM DAD JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE ALLEGED EVENT AT DOWNING STREET
A WOMAN whose husband died of Covid last year has described the alleged Downing Street Christmas party as “sickening”.
Lisa Morgan lost her 38-year-old husband Mark to the virus on November 26, 2020, and was forced to say goodbye to him at a scaledback funeral on December 16 – just two days before the Number 10 party is said to have happened.
The party is said to have happened on December 18, when London was in Tier Three restrictions, strictly banning any indoor gatherings.
Leaked footage from No.10’s press briefing room emerged on Monday night which showed former press secretary Allegra Stratton laughing as she appeared to rehearse answers to questions over the Christmas party.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologised but he denied a party took place, in spite of the reports.
Ms Stratton resigned yesterday from her current role as the Government’s Cop26 spokeswoman.
It comes as the Prime Minister announced that he was enacting Plan B to curb the spread of the Omicron Covid variant.
People have been told to work from home from Monday if they can. NHS Covid passes are also being made mandatory, with nightclubs and other venues being given one week to prepare for the changes.
Indoor events of 500 people or more, outdoor events with 4,000 people or more and any venue that holds 10,000 people or more are all included under the new measures.
Mrs Morgan, 41, who lives in Sandiacre, said: “I wasn’t allowed to comfort my husband in hospital but they are able to have a party. My touch - my love - could have saved him.”
She spoke after the video surfaced appearing to show No.10 staff making light of lockdown measures.
Mr Morgan’s death was a double tragedy for the family. His nephew Kieran Pritchett-gunn passed away in the August of last year.
On the alleged party, Ms Morgan said: “It’s great they had a good time because I didn’t – I think it’s disgusting. They’re meant to lead by example and they’re just making a mockery of the rules.
“It’s that stupid it’s unbelievable, I just find it laughable - where is their conscience?
“My Christmas was horrific, I was mourning the loss of my husband with my family. Mark wasn’t allowed a wake, no proper sendoff, nothing. Only 30 people could come to his funeral.
“It’s sickening and disrespectful that they had this party and it’s really hard to know it was just two days after the funeral.”
Alex Norris, Labour and Cooperative MP for Nottingham North, said: “Across Nottingham people were missing Christmas, missing weddings, missing funerals all to tackle this pandemic together.
“It’s absolutely outrageous that those who set the rules weren’t following them and it shows how little regard they hold us all in.”
Speaking about enacting Plan B, Mr Johnson told a Downing Street press conference yesterday: “We will reintroduce the guidance to work from home.
“Employers should use the rest of the week to discuss working arrangements with their employees but from Monday you should work from home if you can.
“Go to work if you must but work from home if you can.
“I know this will be hard for many people but by reducing your contacts in the workplace, you will help slow transmission.
“It has become increasingly clear that Omicron is growing much faster than the previous Delta variant and is spreading rapidly all around the world.
“Most worryingly, there is evidence that the doubling time of Omicron could currently be between two and three days.”
From tomorrow face masks will also be made mandatory in most indoor venues, including cinemas and theatres.