Labour has called on the Justice Secretary, , to force his PPS, Joy
Morrissey, to apologise or face the sack over her attack on the
Chief Medical Officer.
In response to Chris Whitty’s comment made yesterday that “people
should be prioritising the things that really matter to them”,
Morrisey posted an attack on him on social media, suggesting
Whitty should “defer to what our ELECTED Members of Parliament
and the Prime Minister have decided”.
Morrissey’s attack on the Chief Medical Officer was followed in
the House of Commons by Conservative MPs , and former Health Minister
, in a further indication that
Boris Johnson’s waning authority over his party is enabling
Conservative MPs to undermine crucial public health messaging.
In response, , Labour's
Shadow Justice Secretary, has written to Raab
calling the comments “unacceptable and dangerous”, saying:
“It is vital, especially during this pandemic, that our leading
scientists have the freedom to give public health advice to the
public and to offer their expertise without fear of reprisal.
“As the Omicron variant spreads rapidly through Britain, there
must not be any sign of the Government censoring or intimidating
our leading scientific experts.”
Ends
Notes to editors
- Full text of Steve Reed's letter to :
-
Dear Secretary of State
I am writing to draw your attention to comments made by your
Parliamentary Private Secretary, , attacking the Chief
Medical Officer, . I am calling on you to
demand that she apologise or, failing that, be removed from
her position.
Earlier today, in response to the Chief Medical Officer’s
comment that “people should be prioritising the things that
really matter to them”, Morrissey posted the below statement
on social media:
“Perhaps the unelected covid public health spokesperson
should defer to what our ELECTED Members of Parliament and
the Prime Minister have decided. I know it’s difficult to
remember but that’s how democracy works. This is not a public
health socialist state.”
The public may not trust the Prime Minister, following
revelations of numerous parties held last Christmas in Downing
Street, Conservative Party headquarters and various government
departments. But they do still look to the Chief Medical
Officer and his peers for direction, expertise and advice.
It is vital, especially during this pandemic, that our
leading scientists have the freedom to give public health
advice to the public and to offer their expertise without
fear of reprisal. As the Omicron variant spreads rapidly
through Britain, there must not be any sign of the Government
censoring or intimidating our leading scientific experts.
The comments from your PPS are clearly unacceptable and
dangerous. You must now demand that she apologises, and if
she fails to, you should remove her from her position.
Yours sincerely
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
