Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi faces angry reaction over partygate support for PM
THERE was little surprise but a big backlash when Nadhim Zahawi spoke out in support of Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak over their partygate fines.
The Stratford MP joined the procession of faithful Ministers who tweeted their support on Tuesday evening for the prime minister and chancellor, in light of what many believe was a resignation issue.
But Mr Zahawi and his colleagues brushed aside any thought the pair should go – causing widespread upset, particularly for those constituents who stuck by the lockdown rules and were not with loved ones as they died or able to have funerals as they would have wanted.
Mr Zahawi’s tweet, echoing the sentiments expressed by other senior Tory figures said: “It is right that the PM has apologised and taken full responsibility. I continue to support the PM and the chancellor as we deliver our ambitious domestic agenda and address the economic challenge of global inflation and security on our continent. We will deliver at home and abroad.”
Many people were quick to challenge him on Twitter about his willingness to support Boris Johnson, when parliament was lied to, while from his own constituents came a feeling that he has gone back on pledges he had previously made on the matter.
Victoria Allcock, who has previously shared with Herald readers her anguish at the death of her twin brother Andrew at a time of lockdown restrictions – which the family followed while those in power seemingly weren’t – wrote to the MP yesterday, Wednesday, morning reminding him of the assurances he had offered her when she raised the matter late last year as many of the partygate revelations were made.
In her new letter to Mr Zahawi, she highlighted that when he replied to her in December he said: “I have been reassured that if it is found that Covid rules were broken, then there will be disciplinary action for those involved.”
And she pursued that point with him: “The police have found that rules were broken, and fines have been issued. Yet you have come out in full support of the prime minister. So what disciplinary action will be taken? You are giving the members who have been found to have broken the rules your full support, but what about your constituents? What about what you told me?”
She added that this was not just an issue for her: “Can you imagine the feelings of the people of Stratford? Do you really think they want you supporting a prime minister who had parties while the rest of us buried loved ones with limited numbers, and didn’t get to see our families?”
Another Stratford resident was more direct in what he expected Mr Zahawi to do. Jeremy Paris wrote to him, saying: “As a constituent of Stratford-upon-Avon, and you as my MP, will you please now call for the prime minister to resign. He has broken the very laws he set, misled Parliament and the public.
“I’m deeply disturbed about the erosion of trust and democracy in this country and call on you to stand up for the residents of Stratford.”
The Herald approached Mr Zahawi for a response to numerous points raised by his tweet and he said: “The PM and the chancellor threw absolutely everything they had at getting us through the pandemic with comprehensive financial support and a world-class vaccine rollout. Locking down was an extremely difficult decision which the prime minister ultimately had to make, and I know this resulted in enormous sacrifices which I would never seek to dismiss.
“Yes, they made a mistake, but they’ve apologised and I think it’s the right thing for the country that they are allowed to get on with overcoming our current global inflationary and security challenges.”
A Stratford constituency Conservative party insider told us Mr Zahawi’s stance was unsurprising.
He said: “I cannot see Boris going at the moment unless there are further revelations, but there is no doubt that will be an impact at the local elections in May and a lot of people’s trust will have been damaged.
"It is difficult to judge the long term implications as the main opposition remains so weak that when it comes to a general, most people will decide based on who they want in charge moving forwards.
"No surprise at all to see Nadhim back him. Those that were critical of him before will be again but I can’t see it flipping any more people against him this time. He clearly thinks as the party do that he can ride it out. And he is probably right as things stand."
