Michael Fabricant
Sir Michael Fabricant

Lichfield’s MP says he understands the anger felt by those who lost loved ones during the Covid pandemic – but told the House of Commons that attending a leaving gathering is a valid work event.

Michael Fabricant’s comments come after the publication of the Sue Gray report.

The long-awaited review of gatherings at Downing Street during lockdown found that many events “should not have been allowed”.

After highlighting excessive drinking, the senior civil servant also said leadership “at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture”.

But Mr Fabricant told the House of Commons that Boris Johnson had been given incorrect information by civil servants.

“I understand the outrage and anger of people in Lichfield and Burntwood and elsewhere who have lost loved ones.

“But I also understand, having been an employer, that attending an event where someone is leaving is considered to be a work event, and my Rt Hon Friend clearly got guidance from civil servants that turned out to be wrong.

“Can he now explain how the appointment of a new Permanent Secretary at Number 10 will make a difference in the future?”

Michael Fabricant

The Prime Minister replied:

“Not only has the structure of Number 10 changed, so that there is more direct command and control for the whole building where hundreds and hundreds work, which was unclear before, there is also a new Permanent Secretary with direct responsibility for the whole office, as opposed to that function being addressed nominally by the Principal Private Secretary.

“As Sue Gray said, the lines of command were not clear previously.”

Boris Johnson
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FCALichfield
1 year ago

I think our MP has the wrong end of the stick. Johnson was fined for his birthday party, not for attending a leaving party (although I’m sure most people would have thought he should have been).
We had all listened to the Prime Minister telling us, time after time, that virtually any social contact was illegal. We had seen reports of people walking in the countryside being fined.
If the PM didn’t know this, he should have listened to his own broadcasts. Unlike Johnson the public didn’t need civil servants to give us advice on this.
I’m afraid Sue Gray and the Met have failed to investigate crucial areas. Why was that, I wonder!

Andy
1 year ago

I’m not sure anyone is that interested in what’s been done to improve things, most people are concerned that this was allowed to happen in the first place…!!

Simply smoothing over the issues and saying “yeah….things are better now” simply doesn’t cut it. Neither does the PM being given “wrong guidance” – he’s the PM for god’s sake!! He signed off the guidance!!!

Furthermore, Mr Fabricant says that leaving drinks are work events. Eh – no, they’re not!! I’m a civil servant of some 16 years. EVERY office leaving speech I’ve been to have been 10 min affairs, with no alcohol, and at most, some Pringles or crisps. People listen to the goodbye speech, have a snack and then carry on working. So please Mr Fabricant, stop trying to colour this as harmless. It wasn’t. It was wrong, illegal, and immoral and, your constant excusing of the facts are getting increasingly offensive to all those that made monumental sacrifices.

Ed Eaton
1 year ago

To be fair I would have forgiven anyone who attended a leaving event, if the person leaving was the buffoon Michael Fabricant….

Cllr Alastair Little
1 year ago

“When Leaving” can he now come t on the missed funerals. As this disgusting human has pointed out I’m not a resident of his but many residents of the area I represent that he has forgotten are and are in the same situation as myself – lost loved ones . Michael Fabricant is a disgrace and an embarrassment to elected office and should along with his idol Boris leave office ASAP.

To have the PM say he has been misinformed by junior staff as to what a party is – or is not- now can we trust him to run the government . How can we trust a local backbench MP who worships his boss to represent the views of Lichfield and Burntwood

John
1 year ago

It’s about time Michael Fabricant was shown the door by Lichfield voters when they next get the opportunity to. This man is totally out of touch and does nothing for younger people in Lichfield. More and more retirement flats, new housing developments with infrastructure that is inadequate built by developers that seem to be able to get away with doing the bare minimum in reparations to the council. Lichfield’s character and charm has all but been destroyed. Where is the cinema, ice rink, bowling alley etc. Michael Fabricant the man who claimed expenses for a selfie stick and then tells us that he only uses it on official engagements. What a joke. Meals and drinks subsidised at 1970’s prices for MP’s, gold plated pensions and a good salary and significant pay rise every year. Awarded by someone else of course. It’s about time MP’s started delivering for the people that elect them. So the choice is yours make sure you use your vote whenever the next election arrives.

ProfessorPineapple
1 year ago

Are there other headquarters of G7 democracies in which staff fight each other and vomit on the floor, or is it only Tory Britain?

Jane
1 year ago

Watching that video was like Laurel & Hardy with words.

I expect Mr. Fabricant is faithfully hoping that Alexander B. Johnson will attend HIS leaving do – which hopefully, (come on now Lichfield & Burntwood) be sooner rather than later…..

Lichvegas
1 year ago

Dear Mr Fabricant, please can I attend your leaving event in 2024? I am one of your constituents and I am hoping for:

Loads of booze
Hugging and singing
Fights and people being sick
An event which goes until 3am (at least)
No-one calling the police

I’ve heard that’s how they do it at 10 Downing Street, so please can we do it here? I would write to you and ask, but you only ever send me stupid, platitudinous boilerplate replies, and I’m really looking for an RSVP here.

Thank you!

John Allen
1 year ago

So, Mr Fabricant, if someone attended a funeral for a work colleague, or a wedding for that matter, would this have been classed as a work event? What a complete load of rubbish. Is there anything that our sycophantic MP won’t do to defend Boris the buffoon?

Clare Sholl
1 year ago

One of my children left school during lockdown. No A’level exams, no leavers’ do, no nothing. She was just at school one day and not at school the next. Same for others who left school then. My eldest graduated – no finals exams, no leavers’ do, no graduation ceremony. Same for other final year students.

So why did civil servants in No 10 need leaving do’s exactly when others around the country couldn’t even attend funerals or be with their loved ones in hospital?

Flossy
1 year ago

Dear Michael You are still defending the PM. Shame on you. I believe Tories will lose the next election [as does a growing number of your colleagues] as the day to day management of government is appalling, the general attitude is arrogant, the outcomes are constantly “catch up”, the spin is treating the voters are stupid, and Tories are out of touch with real people. Sooner gone the better. the big need is a truthful PM.

ProfessorPineapple
1 year ago

Attending a leaving do is a work event? Bit rich from the man who missed 5 Cobra meetings.

wayne
1 year ago

predictably sycophantic

Disgruntled constituent
1 year ago

It is time Mr Fabricant removes himself from Mr Johnson’s proverbial back side and sticks up for his constituents for once who have suffered during Covid. He should think more about us than his own ego and advancing himself within the Tory party.

Thanking you.

Yours,

A disgruntled constituent.