A TORY MP has apologised after attacking journalists for their “sick obsession” with UK’s coronavirus death toll.
Jonathan Gullis hit out on social media after broadcaster James O’Brien said the media should not “sugar coat” the soaring number of deaths.
As of yesterday, 26,097 people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus. The true figure is believed to be significantly higher.
“Our death toll is now, by any measure, among the very worst in the world. Quite clearly as a result of political decisions and incompetence,” O’Brien added.
Gullis initially insisted the UK Government’s response “hasn’t been politically driven”.
In a now-deleted follow-up, he wrote: “With regards to the media’s sick obsession over the total tragic deaths from Covid-19 you can’t lazily compare the total number when countries have different density, population size, age, demographics as well as some countries manipulating figures (like China) or underreporting.”
The Stoke-on-Trent North MP was soon facing a backlash, forcing him to apologise. He tweeted: “In a tweet I said the media had a ‘sick obsession’ with the total deaths from Covid-19. I reacted to @mrjamesob poorly and I apologise for it. My point is that the media haven’t explored the complexity of wide ranging factors that are involved when trying to compare figures.”
He also clarified he was “heartbroken at the lives lost to Covid-19 as everyone else is”.
O’Brien replied: “Next time, maybe run what you’re planning to tweet past the people who instructed you to do it?”
Social media users weren’t entirely convinced by the Tory’s apology.
One comment read: “If it’s not even lunchtime and you’re having to tweet ‘Let me be clear, I think death is bad’ then it may be time to get off Twitter for a bit and go for a walk? Sun’s out!”
Another said: “You publicly abdicated Govt responsibility for managing the crisis, putting all of it on scientists. Did scientists tell the PM to boast about shaking the hands of Covid patients?”
One Twitter user wrote: “Imagine your embarrassment when you remember that the NHS was on its knees before this crisis even started, due to 10 years of neglect and underfunding by your party.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel