Tory MP Richard Bacon called it “grotesque” for implying NHS staff had also broken Covid laws

South Norfolk Conservative MP Richard Bacon on Wednesday defended the Prime Minister before making comments about the UK’s health workforce, which Wes Streeting called “grotesque”.

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Partygate: MP Richard Bacon says NHS staff may have broken rules

A Tory MP who has defended Boris Johnson after Sue Gray’s scathing 37-page account of lockdown parties at Downing Street has been widely pilloried for claiming NHS staff have also “let their hair down” during the pandemic “.

Richard Bacon, who has held the safe seat of South Norfolk since 2001, made the bizarre claims during an interview on BBC regional news program Look East, when he attempted to justify the boozy gatherings at No. 10 by implying that NHS Staffers across the UK have also had similar antics.

“The fact that he (Boris Johnson) goes around thanking his staff for working very, very hard 18 hours a day to keep the show going while we were in a global pandemic is not a crime , and I don’t think it’s something he should be convicted for and I certainly don’t think it’s something he should resign for – I support Boris,” Mr Bacon replied in defense of the Prime Minister.

“I’m not happy with the revelations but I think they’ve worked under a lot of pressure – they haven’t investigated it but there are 1.5 million people working in the NHS and I’ll bet if you try hard enough , you might find some people let their hair down who had been working 24-7.

“We were under extraordinary pressure in a global pandemic and didn’t really know what we were dealing with.”

The 59-year-old’s comments shocked Labor Party shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who demanded he withdraw them immediately.

He said: “(It’s) a grotesque insult to the people who work for the NHS. He should retract this and apologise.”

Mr Bacon was heavily criticized by the public for his comments, and BBC broadcaster Gary Lineker took to Twitter to condemn his words.

The former England star wrote: “Hospitals are really big buildings. Nurses and doctors worked really long hours.

“Some of them have undoubtedly quit their jobs and somehow managed not to party after work and play by rules that they didn’t actually make.”

Other social media users also vented their courage, with one critic writing: “Richard Bacon MP is as awful as ever. Don’t attack our NHS staff – this man is an eyesore to South Norfolk.”

Another added: “How dare he! My son worked long hours in an intensive care unit, intubating people who were gasping for air and watching helplessly as too many of them died.

“There was little time to celebrate between shifts.”

There was also: “Tory MP Richard Bacon showed his true colors and even had the gall to slander NHS workers, accusing them of having a few drinks and letting their hair down after long shifts.

“He demonstrates his utter disdain for truth, standards and decency.”

One angry user voiced this view: “The depth these Tory MPs will go to defend the untenable is absolutely disgusting!”, while an NHS nurse wrote: “As a nurse who has worked during the pandemic gave no parties, no gatherings, no drunk leaving as it was against the rules! We sat socially distanced during breaks, PPE only removed to eat!”

The final comment goes to this disgusted NHS worker who said: “We’ve been too busy looking after the sick and dying – including our own colleagues to ‘let us’.

“We’ve attended funerals for colleagues via Zoom, we’ve made sure families say goodbye to loved ones via FaceTime, we’ve done everything we can to protect others.”