Upset at Matt is Understandable – but abuse of chris is not

our columnist on covid heroes and villains, and a tricky self-isolation call for children

Seeing Professor Chris Whitty being harassed in the street just for doing his job made me so angry. It’s not the first time this has happened to him but this incident was definitely worse. I really hope the people in the video are prosecuted, because that is the only right thing to do.

It was disgusting. He is just doing his job and working hard, for the good of everyone. I really admire him for the incredible work he has done over the past year as chief medical officer. It must have been so scary for Prof Whitty (left), so I hope the Government now takes steps to ensure he has some proper protection.

I also felt for Safiyya Vorajee, pictured right with her daughter Azaylia Cain, who tragically died aged eight months after a battle with leukaemia. She said she felt “really disheartened” after seeing that former Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured right with Gina Coladangelo, who he’s alleged to have had an affair with) had broken social-distancing rules while she and her partner Ashley had kept to restrictions and not seen their family – even though their little girl was so unwell.

I can completely appreciate why people are so upset. It’s been a hard 18 months for everyone, which I think explains why lots of people felt frustrated by what happened. Matt Hancock admitted that “those of us who make these rules have got to stick by them”, so at least he has apologised and we can move on.