A Whitley Bay woman who lost her dad and brother to Covid says that Boris Johnson "must take responsibility for his actions" after he admitted misleading Parliament, but denied it was intentionally or recklessly.
Mr Johnson was grilled on live TV over whether he lied to MPs over Partygate in a Privileges Committee hearing that will determine his future in politics. The former PM has accepted that he misled MPs but said his comments were made "in good faith" based on what he "honestly" knew at the time.
The former prime minister said the boozy gatherings were necessary as part of work morale in Number 10 during the pandemic. But he vowed Covid rules and guidance was followed in No10.
The former PM, who was ousted from office last year after a string of scandals, said that Wednesday's televised hearing would vindicate him. He faces being a potential suspension if MPs decide he deliberately misled them.
Read more: Boris Johnson LIVE: Updates as former PM claims leaving party was 'essential'
Mr Johnson has insisted there is "no evidence at all that supports an allegation that I intentionally or recklessly misled the House".
However, Elaine Rennie, 52, who lost both her dad Alistair on April 13 2022, and her brother Mark just over a week later on April 21, to the virus, believes that Mr Johnson did intentionally mislead MPs and that he must face the consequences. Alistair had been in North Tyneside General Hospital on Rake Lane in North Shields with a bowel complaint shortly before catching the virus, which he then passed onto his bedbound son Mark, who had MS.
Professional singer Elaine, who now lives in her dad's house in Whitley Bay, said: "I've seen videos of him dancing at a party the day before the Queen was at her own husband's funeral. He was at parties, there were loads of people, including his MPs, not keeping to the rules."
The 52-year-old said that she felt "shocked and saddened" both Johnson and former health secretary Matt Hancock had "turned a blind eye" to the strict lockdown rules that were imposed on the UK for months. She continued: "More than anyone, those at the parties should have taken responsibility in their positions as MPs. They should have followed the correct procedure and they haven't.
"My dad and brother kept to the rules, they had all their injections, they wouldn't go out. Every time I visited them, I did a test, wore a mask, we kept to the rules then they both caught it in hospital. And people like Boris Johnson weren't keeping to the rules."
Boris Johnson issued an apology on April 12, 2022, just one day before Elaine's dad's death, relating to an event in Downing Street in June 2020. Mr Johnson had received a fixed penalty notice from the Metropolitan Police and becoming the first sitting Prime Minister found to be guilty of breaking the law.
And while Elaine says she accepts his apology, he must face consequences. She added: "As a Christian, I forgive everyone and I'd accept his apology on a Christian level, but he still has to take some responsibility for his actions and pay the consequences."
Should he be found guilty of misleading the house, a suspension of more than 10 sitting days could lead to a by-election for Mr Johnson in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. Elaine said: "I think he shouldn't be in the position in Parliament to do any of this again, and I think it's fair that he could lose his seat."
Alistair and Mark were given a joint funeral and now rest side by side in Whitley Bay Crematorium. Elaine finished: "Since my family have passed away, I've seen the seriousness of Covid more than before.
"I've seen how dangerous and lethal it is and with the knowledge I have now, watching my dad and brother not being able to breath on oxygen as Covid was killing them with a horrific death. I feel very saddened that Boris Johnson neglected the world, especially the elderly, vulnerable, and the ill - the ones who needed it the most."
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