A Scottish MP was reduced to tears in the Commons after he described the pain of losing his mother to dementia during the pandemic.
During an emotional backbench debate on dementia research, SNP MP John Nicolson recalled how many people died not directly of covid but “died through loneliness” because they were separated from their loved ones.
Nicolson, the MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, said his mother died at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said: “Her name was Marion, she went from being a sparkling presence to somebody who at the start of the pandemic was locked in for her own protection and I wasn’t able to go and see her.
“I never before understood the whole idea of somebody turning their face to the wall. She just stopped eating and drinking and within a week she was dead."
Nicolson added: "I do hope that when the story of the pandemic is written, we will remember all those people who died because of it, and will never be recorded as having died by Covid, they died through loneliness.”
After Nicolson finished speaking he began to cry, and fellow SNP MP Steven Bonnar hugged him as he sat down on the Commons benches.
Elsewhere in the debate, Bonnar accused the Conservatives of breaking a manifesto promise to double funding for dementia research, saying the amount spent dropped in 2020 compared with the year before.
He said: “Two years later and another broken promise later, we find ourselves in the same situation, with no plans from the Government to deliver on its manifesto pledge.”.
The Government said it is “absolutely committed” to supporting dementia research, has provided funding for health research including dementia in the most recent spending review, and that the manifesto pledge was for the “longer term”.
Health Minister Edward Angar paid tribute Nicolson’s “courage and bravery” in relating his experience.
The Minister said: “He speaks for thousands across this country who had a similar experience in the course the pandemic. We must never forget the people lost in this pandemic for whatever reason or the families and carers of those with dementia.”
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