UNISON has condemned Tory MP Richard Bacon for his “heinous insult” to NHS staff while trying to defend under-fire Prime Minister Boris Johnson amid the PartyGate row.
Speaking on BBC Look East, the South Norfolk MP said: “You haven’t gone and investigated it but there are one and a half million people who work in the NHS. I bet if you tried hard enough you could find some people letting their hair down who were working 24/7 in the NHS as well.”
He was trying to deflect criticism from Mr Johnson, who ruled out resigning despite being held responsible for the boozey party culture at No 10, even while the rest of the UK was in lockdown because of Covid-19.
UNISON Eastern regional secretary Tim Roberts said: “Richard Bacon’s comments are a heinous insult to the hundreds of NHS workers who died from Covid and all their colleagues who fought physical and mental exhaustion to keep us safe during the darkest days of the pandemic.
“He would be hard pushed to find any NHS staff with the energy to let their hair down let alone throw BYOB bashes like Mr Bacon’s boss.
“We spoke to an occupational therapist from Norfolk this morning who was redeployed to a Covid ward during the first lockdown. She said: ‘I didn’t join the NHS to work on a ward and watch patients die in agony. But I did it, because I felt it was my duty to give help where it was needed.’
“Perhaps Mr Bacon should consider why he became an MP. It can’t have been to malign health workers and defend a Prime Minister who can’t even follow the rules he makes.
“Richard Bacon must withdraw his comments and apologise for the deep hurt he’s caused his constituents and NHS workers around the country.”