A former Tory councillor has criticised Lichfield’s MP for using “distraction techniques” to defend the actions of the Prime Minister.
Michael Fabricant has found himself under fire from unions over his claims some nurses and teachers broke lockdown rules too by drinking in staff rooms after work.
The latest to voice concern over his views is Cllr Thomas Loughbrough-Rudd, Staffordshire County Council representative for Burntwood North.
The one-time Conservative councillor – who left the party after being suspended from the county council Tory group over a tree funding controversy – said that despite a positive relationship with the MP previously, he was unhappy with his comments.
“I have avoided criticising Mr Fabricant because he has always been good to me and I dislike the very personal attacks that usually originate about his hair from anonymous online trolls.
“Saying that, on this occasion I do feel his comments were wrong and that he should not have said them.
“There are many very good schools in this area including quite a few in my division which I highly respect.
“I don’t think trying to bring distraction techniques in to cover for the Prime Minister is right.”
Cllr Thomas Loughbrough-Rudd, Staffordshire County Council
Mr Fabricant has said he did not intend for his comments to offend or demoralise teachers and nurses, but explained that some had come forward to confirm lockdown breaches since he sought to justify the actions of Boris Johnson in a BBC interview by comparing the situation to healthcare and education workers.
“I applaud the work of nurses, GPs, and others in the medical and teaching professions who worked long hours under difficult, and sometimes impossible, conditions during the height of the Covid pandemic to keep us all safe and to educate our children.
“We all owe a debt to them which will be difficult to repay.
“I explained that I was neither judging nor chastising the minority of nurses or teachers who chose to unwind with a few work colleagues after a long shift. Nor did I suggest that any were drunk – I know of none who were so.
“It was not my intention to cause offence – let alone demoralise anyone as some have claimed – in the BBC TV interview a few days back and I apologise if I have genuinely done so.”
Michael Fabricant MP
Cllr Loughbrough-Rudd said the Prime Minister’s actions in attending a lockdown event at Downing Street had made “a complete mockery” of those who had obeyed the rules during the pandemic.
“The local election results will I think be the end of Boris anyway, but he should have faced a confidence vote from MPs by now.
“The Prime Minister’s actions were a complete mockery of those who missed funerals, who couldn’t visit relatives, celebrate birthdays, host retirement events and everyone who obeyed the rules – the rules that he himself set.”
Cllr Thomas Loughbrough-Rudd, Staffordshire County Council
