Rushanara Ali

As people across the country followed the rules, even when that meant being separated from loved ones, those at the very top of Government broke them. These restrictions were in place to save lives. These restrictions meant that people could not say their final goodbyes to loved ones.

The UK has lost 146,000 people to this pandemic, including 564 from Tower Hamlets. But as relatives died alone, those in No.10 partied, drank wine and rehearsed how to get away with it.
With Covid-19 cases on the rise and the emergence of the new Omicron variant, it is vital people have faith in public institutions and their leaders. We have a Prime Minister whose first instinct to lie is damaging trust in public health messaging. This will directly impact compliance with any future restrictions the Government may announce this winter.

This Government's credibility is diminished. Time and time again, they operate on a different set of rules to the country they seek to govern. The wounds of this pandemic still run fresh through our communities. For the Government to lie is shameful; for them to laugh is unforgivable.