Bigger issues

Am I alone in expressing my frustration at the continual talk about Partygate when we are witnessing atrocities in Ukraine and soaring prices and reduced product sizes in our shops?

I have no wish to condone the actions of the Prime Minister and certainly disagree strongly with the culture that existed within government offices and departments. However, a “party” is a social occasion – in other words it is a gathering (i) for a specific purpose and (ii) separate from “normal” work patterns.

I used to attend "the office party” each Christmas. It started after hours with a drink before we left the office to enjoy a meal: it was a party. There were other occasions when at the close of a meeting someone might produce a cake to “celebrate” a birthday – this was not a party, as it was simply convenient to add a “celebration” at the end of a working situation.

In the same way I have attended schools where Friday morning break was a “cake event” where teachers enjoyed a “treat” before returning to the classroom – this was not a party.

I was also involved occasionally in “adjourning” to the local hostelry to look at an issue in a more informal setting and remember attending business meetings that had two distinct halves – a set business agenda followed by a meal in the local hostelry to further a “team spirit”.

Number 10 was guilty of some foolish behaviour – recognised by apologies and a change in the working environment – but, please, these were not “parties”.

The Prime Minister was undoubtedly wrong but please let us focus on the big issues affecting our world and every family and not parties.

JAMES WATSON

Dunbar, East Lothian