Easter Recess: Government Update

Matt Western Excerpts

Tuesday 19th April 2022 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I repeat what I said earlier: there could not be a clearer expression of the robustness of our democracy than that all of us must be held to account. I have been held to account, and I apologise very sincerely.

[Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) (Lab)]

The public will be appalled by the Prime Minister’s statement, because not only did he make a statement to the nation virtually every night during the pandemic, but the Government he leads spent hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ pounds on advertising campaigns demanding that the public followed the rules. One featured a woman in intensive care on a ventilator. The Prime Minister must have seen it; it said:

“Look her in the eyes and tell her you never bend the rules.”

Three months ago I reminded him of this, and asked him to explain himself; he told me to wait until after the police had investigated. They now have; it is clear that he bent the rules. He is taking the public for fools, isn’t he?

[The Prime Minister]

I apologise again. I thank the public very much for what they did: by their collective action, they have helped us to keep covid at bay.