Hitchin MP Bim Afolami's Conservative party plan adds insult to injury in Covid scandal, says Sam Collins.

The Hitchin and Harpenden Lib Dems have hit out Mr Afolami's plan to invite Tory party chair Oliver Dowden to a party in our area for Tory donors, in the light of the No10 party scandal.

The then Culture Secretary Dowden was the same minister who announced that people could only meet in pairs outdoors, less than an hour before the Conservatives at No.10 held the 'bring your own booze' party in the Downing Street garden.

Dowden had previously defended another No10 garden gathering during a national lockdown, described as 'pizza party' where staff were alleged to have drunk wine and spirits as a business meeting.

"This is a real kick in the teeth for so many people in our area who were unable to see loved ones, friends, colleagues during this time," Mr Collins told Nub News.

"Rather than address the issue of these lockdown parties, the local Conservatives have decided to hold their own party for donors while we are still deep in the pandemic, with Covid levels in our area at a very high level," he added.

"The Conservative MP should rescind this invite and instead push for full accountability of what was really going on at No10 when so many were suffering," concluded Mr Collins, the Lib Dems Parliamentary Candidate for Hitchin.

Earlier Afolami has categorically denied attending the controversial No10 party that has put the PM's behaviour during the pandemic under the spotlight once again.

advertisement