Heysham man who lost family during Covid says Morecambe MP should be "ashamed" at Partygate stance

A Heysham man whose sister and mother-in-law died during the Covid pandemic says the Morecambe and Lunesdale MP should be "ashamed" at his stance on Partygate.

Mark Swindlehurst wrote to David Morris to say he felt "upset and betrayed" by the culture of partying in Downing Street during lockdown when he was unable to see his family members before they died.

Mr Swindlehurst was furious at Mr Morris' recent comments on television that "It’s time to move on' from Partygate and that "The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson) made an apology over eating cake two years ago".

He said in the letter: "I and hundreds of people I know feel upset and betrayed by what happened in Downing Street and by dismissing it as a bit of 'cake eating' when the Sue Gray Report clearly states otherwise is an insult to me, my family and the hundreds of your constituents who knew and loved both of these ladies.

"You should be ashamed."

Mr Morris has replied, saying that he was "sorry to hear the sad loss of two of your family members during the Covid pandemic".

The MP also said that he considered "the matter closed" and "will not be commenting any further".

Mr Swindlehurst's sister Karen Whitfield, a care home manager, died in January 2021 after contracting Covid-19.

Due to lockdown regulations, Mark was unable to see her during the Christmas before she passed away.

His mother-in-law Meryl Gibson died of cancer in May 2020, and was unable to say goodbye to family members or close friends before her death.

Mr Swindlehurst wrote to Mr Morris: "I would like you to pass this letter on to Mr Johnson for his and your thoughts on the content, and please explain to us how we can 'move on' when we are clearly not being respected or considered when decisions about rule breaking for selfish reasons are being made. 

"Why could Mr Johnson and his staff have a birthday party, when Mrs Gibson could not have the send off she deserved after a lifetime of dedication to the NHS and caring for others?

"Why could my sister Karen not see any of her family during her last Christmas, while Downing Street partied?

"How can you possibly support the Prime Minister? How do you suggest my family 'moves on'?"

In April, Boris Johnson was fined after a police investigation found that he broke rules by attending a social gathering at Downing Street during the Covid lockdown period.

The Sue Gray Report, a civil servant's investigation into several illegal parties in Downing Street during the pandemic, was published in May, and criticised the "culture and leadership" in Downing Street.

Mr Johnson (pictured below) has apologised and said he did not realise he was breaking any rules. He has faced calls to resign, including from some Tory MPs, but has refused to quit and says he "wants to draw a line" under Party-gate and "get on with the job".

On Monday he faced a confidence vote of Conservative MPs, and won by 211 votes to 148, meaning that he will remain leader of the party and Prime Minister.

Beforehand, Mr Morris said that he would be voting in favour of Mr Johnson.

Mr Morris' comments defending Mr Johnson, which angered Mr Swindlehurst, were made during an episode of BBC Politics North West on May 29.

"I'm absolutely bored to the back teeth of Partygate," he said.

Presenter Annabel Tiffin then said: "You might be, but it's very important to a lot of people."

Mr Morris (pictured below) replied: "No, I don't think it is. I think people have got to the stage now where they are sick of it, and it's time to move on. At the end of the day, the Prime Minister made an apology over eating cake two years ago. He still has my support, fully."

Here is Mr Swindlehurst's letter to Mr Morris in full:

"Dear Mr Morris

"I am a member of your constituency and I wanted to give you some feedback on comments that you have been reported to have made in the local press this week, and make a couple of requests.

"You are reported as saying 'people were sick of Partygate' and ''It’s time for people to move on'. Also 'The Prime Minister had made an apology over eating cake two years ago. He still has my support, fully.’

"Please indulge me as I attempt to give you some context for my reason to write to you. Around the time Mr Johnson was 'eating cake' we were holding a funeral attended by 15 people for my mother-in-law Meryl Gibson, who had sadly died of cancer during May 2020.

"Mrs Gibson had spent over 50 years working for the NHS and then spent her retirement volunteering at West End Impact. She was not allowed to say goodbye to family members or to close friends before passing.

"Typical of her, while bitterly disappointed that she was unable to do this, she saw the bigger picture and understood that the rules were set by the Government for the good of everyone and that it was important that we all stuck by them, with no exceptions.

"As mentioned, the funeral that took place in June 2020, in normal times, would have been standing room only for an amazing lady but was restricted to 12 only, with no wake or celebration of life permitted. We knew exactly what the rules were.

"My sister Karen Whitfield died from Covid in January 2021. She contracted it in December 2020. 

"Karen was 49 and had spent her career as a care giver to elderly people, making their twilight years as full and comfortable as possible. She was a manager of a local care home throughout the whole of 2020 and protected her residents by following every rule and every piece of guidance issued by the Government. She sacrificed her own personal time and never compromised.  

"In December 2020 we were not allowed to see each other and we exchanged presents at a distance on her doorstep two days before Christmas. We could not hug or kiss. I did not know at this time that it would be the last time I saw her. She called me on Christmas Day in tears and thanked me for the present (a picture of her and her best friend Emma who had recently passed away). It hurt that I could not see her as I was with my wife's family that day, and she was with her family.

"On New Year's Eve she called to tell us that she had tested positive for Covid and that she felt poorly and was going to bed early. It was the last time I spoke to her. She deteriorated over the next few days and was rushed into hospital on January 5. She fought bravely to come back to her family and the NHS ICU team did everything they could for her. The decision to turn off her life support was taken on January 31. For her funeral we were allowed 30, but again it would have been standing room only for a lady that helped others so much. Once again, no celebration of her life was allowed due to the rules that we were fully aware of.

"My reason for writing to you is two-fold. 

"First of all when you say people are sick of Partygate and want to get on, I find it hard to believe. You are clearly speaking to the wrong people. I and hundreds of people I know feel upset and betrayed by what happened in Downing Street and by dismissing it as a bit of 'cake eating' when the Sue Gray Report clearly states otherwise is an insult to me, my family and the hundreds of your constituents who knew and loved both of these ladies. You should be ashamed. 148 of your Conservative MP colleagues have voted with their conscience and are clearly not 'sick of Partygate', but as disgusted and embarrassed as most of the British public. 

"Secondly, the fact that the Prime Minister and his team (who set the rules that we followed), clearly hold the public in contempt and I would like you to pass this letter on to Mr Johnson for his and your thoughts on the content and please explain to us how we can 'move on' when we are clearly not being respected or considered when decisions about rule breaking for selfish reasons are being made. 

"Why could Mr Johnson and his staff have a birthday party, when Mrs Gibson could not have the send off she deserved after a lifetime of dedication to the NHS and caring for others?

"Why could my sister Karen not see any of her family during her last Christmas, while Downing Street partied?

"How can you possibly support the Prime Minister? How do you suggest my family 'moves on'? 

"I await your reply with interest."

Mr Swindlehurst sent us Mr Morris' reply, as follows:

"Dear Mr Swindlehurst,

"Thank you for your email and for sharing your views on this issue.

"I am sorry to hear the sad loss of two of your family members during the Covid pandemic. We all sacrificed a lot to adhere to the rules and to keep our friends, family and community safe. I have forwarded your email to the Prime Minister so he is fully aware of your anger on this issue.

"The Prime Minister has apologised, and the Prime Minister has now won a vote of confidence in the Conservative Parliamentary Party, and therefore I consider this matter closed and will not be commenting any further.

"Boris Johnson is a strong supporter of the Eden Project coming to Morecambe and we are now at a critical stage where a funding application for the necessary Government funding is being made to the Levelling Up fund which will see the project a reality. Boris Johnson’s support has been critical in securing an avenue for this application, and I look forward to welcoming him in Morecambe when this once in a generation opportunity is announced, which will be a game changer for the future prosperity for our community."

Mr Swindlehurst said he was "really disappointed" by the response from the MP.

Beyond Radio has contacted Mr Morris for comment.