COVID FAMILY’S BLAST AT PM
AGRIEVING family has criticised the alleged remarks made by the Prime Minister that he would rather see “bodies pile high” than another a third lockdown.
Mr Johnson strongly denied this. A spokesman for No.10 said: “He didn’t say it and this is untrue.”
But he has still been criticised for the alleged comments which includes a family in Rhondda who saw three relatives die of coronavirus within a week.
Gladys Lewis, 74, from Pentre, died after contracting coronavirus in October last year. A few days later her sons Dean, 44, Darren, 42, also died after catching the virus.
Relative and family spokesperson Tina Mountjoy told The Mirror: “The comments reportedly said by Boris Johnson are totally insensitive to every person that has passed away due to Covid and to the families left behind.
“Explaining to children, aged from two to 18, that their nan, dad, uncle have died and they won’t see them again while trying to deal with the grief of losing a partner and parent is the hardest thing we have ever had to do. I honestly hope that if what has been reported is true that Mr Johnson is held accountable and never knows the pain we have felt every day since this awful tragedy befell us. If he said it, he should hang his head in shame and hand in his resignation.”
Tina added: “As a family, we never imagined how losing a loved one to Covid would affect us, but to lose three members within five days was horrific. The pain of losing a wife, mother and grandmother one morning then 24 hours later to lose a husband, dad, brother and uncle was bad enough.
“But to then be faced with the news that our other brother, son and uncle was fighting for his life on life-support was devastating.”
Mourners in masks lined the streets and clapped in November last year to celebrate the lives of the mum and her sons.
So many wanted to pay their respects outside St Peter’s Church in Pentre the service was broadcast via loudspeakers. Relatives, who mourned inside the church, had wanted the three funerals to be held at the same time.
Father Haydn England-Simon, who led the service, said no family “should ever go through” what the Lewises had suffered.
Asked about reports Mr Johnson told aides he would rather let coronavirus “rip” than return to restrictions in September, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I have seen the various reports and speculation which distort the actions of the Prime Minister.
“At all times he has been focused on saving lives and livelihoods.”