FOLLOWING the prime minister Boris Johnson’s statement in the House of Commons regarding the Sue Gray “update” report into lockdown parties at 10 Downing Street, we asked Harlow MP Robert Halfon, the following questions:

YH: As you said to us a couple of weeks ago, you may feel a “sense of loyalty to the PM”, but do you not agree that you need to decide whose “side” you are on?

The side of the Harlow residents who kept the rules? The Harlow members of the NHS, the families who could not visit their loved ones at care homes such as Tye Green and Ashlyns? The family and friends of the 630 people who have died at PAH?

Mr Halfon said: “I thank Your Harlow for contacting me about this important matter.

“My previous statements made to Your Harlow still stand. Like the rest of Harlow residents who obeyed the rules imposed, we all feel let down and disappointed by the parties held in Downing Street.

I want to be clear that they should never have happened. As the partial report published by the respected civil servant Sue Gray makes clear, there was a serious lapse in judgement that allowed a culture of not just partying, but of high levels of alcohol consumption on work premises. This is unacceptable. 

Rightly, the Prime Minister apologised to the House of Commons and to the country yesterday. But I don’t believe this is enough. I want the Prime Minister to take full responsibility for what has gone on, to respond more fully to deep anguish felt by the public, and to reset the Government to make sure it focuses on the pressing issues affecting Harlow residents like the cost of living, rising energy bills, affordable housing, education and skills. I fundamentally believe that whoever has broken the law, regardless of their position, should face the penalties and consequences of their actions.

But as I have said, I am wary about a change of Government at this time because if there was to be a new leader, it would take many weeks, possibly months to establish a new Cabinet. This would mean we would not have a proper Government in place to help the nation continue to recover from the Covid pandemic, to build our economic recovery, and we could face a possible war in Europe between Russia and Ukraine. It would take a considerable period of time to elect a new leader and it would result in a period of instability for the country which we cannot afford right now. 

I absolutely understand and agree with the depth of feeling across Harlow about what has gone on and I am asking for a meeting with the Prime Minister on a one-to-one basis to set out residents’ concerns about what has transpired. 

“Whilst I welcome the pledge the Prime Minister has made to reform the operation in Downing Street, we will wait for the publication of the full report by Sue Gray and the investigation by the Met Police to be finalised”.