Labour whip quits over seeing lover in lockdown

A LABOUR MP has quit the frontbench after meeting her married lover during lockdown.

Rosie Duffield, 48, admitted she had broken the rules and stood down as a party whip.

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said she was “absolutely right to resign”.

The MP for Canterbury went for a walk in her constituency with married father-of-three James Routh in April. They are now living together in London after Mr Routh, a TV director, separated from his wife.

Ms Duffield said the pair observed the two-metre social distancing rules but lockdown rules at the time meant people from different households were not allowed to meet up.

She said: “My partner and I have been attempting to navigate a difficult personal situation as responsibly as possible.

“I apologise that during that process we breached guidelines.

“A relationship breakdown is difficult at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic.

“I hope people can understand why I took the steps I did and know that I take responsibility for the breaches that occurred and for which I apologise.”

Ms Duffield, a mother of two, said she checked that moving Mr Routh into her flat was in line with coronavirus guidance.

Mr Routh told a Sunday newspaper the breakdown of his marriage had been “painful” and it had become “increasingly impossible to live under the same roof” with his wife, with whom he has three children.

Ms Duffield was elected in 2017 with a majority of 187 and held on to the seat last year with a majority of 1,836. Mr Routh worked on the campaign, helping to make badges and tweeting support for her.

Ms Dodds said Ms Duffield was “absolutely right” to have taken “immediate responsibility”.

She added: “I talk to my constituents about the kind of sacrifices that they have gone through to stick to the rules, to keep us all safe – everybody has got to do that.”