The audience at the recent Question Time session expressed their approval for panelists who criticized a Conservative MP for his party’s handling of the Covid pandemic. During the event in Loughborough, Leicestershire, two individuals questioned Tory MP Joe Robertson about the Conservative Party’s mistakes in managing the pandemic. Earlier that day, a report revealed that Boris Johnson’s delayed lockdown measures resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, with Baroness Heather Hallett stating that a “toxic culture” was present in the government during the Partygate scandal.
Although Joe Robertson, the MP for Isle of Wight East, was not directly involved in the government’s decisions at the time, he faced criticism on Question Time. Fellow panelist Josh Babarinde, MP for Eastbourne, accused Robertson of evading responsibility when asked to apologize for the party’s errors. Babarinde emphasized the disappointment felt by the nation due to the government’s handling of the situation, as highlighted in the report citing a toxic culture within Number 10 Downing Street.
Babarinde further expressed his frustration, calling for Boris Johnson to publicly apologize and be prohibited from holding public office in light of the government’s failures. The audience responded positively to Babarinde’s remarks, applauding the social entrepreneur for his stance during the discussion.
In response to a direct question from an audience member regarding the lives lost during the pandemic, Robertson, who previously worked for Dementia UK, did not offer an apology. Despite acknowledging his lack of authority at the time, Robertson defended the party’s actions, citing the vaccination program and furlough scheme as examples of effective measures. Comedian Zoe Lyons, another panelist, also criticized the government’s decisions during the pandemic, particularly targeting Boris Johnson’s leadership, which resonated with the audience and garnered additional applause.
