A SCOTTISH woman who lost her partner to Covid has hit out at UK Government officials who held illegal lockdown parties, saying there was a “culture of contempt for the ordinary people” throughout the pandemic.
Jane Morrison, lead member of Scottish Covid Bereaved told the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry on Friday of the hardship she faced after her partner, Jacky Morrison-Hart, died in 2020.
Morrison-Hart, 49, had been admitted to hospital for a separate illness but contracted Covid-19 while at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
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After battling the disease, she died a short time later in October 2020.
Morrison spoke of the impact that the pandemic had on her, saying "[i]t still hurts that I couldn't be with her when she was told she was dying.
"It was more traumatic for her than it was when she died."
Speaking to the inquiry panel, Morrison said there was “contempt” for normal citizens as UK Government officials illegally held lavish parties despite lockdown restrictions meant to prevent anyone from doing so.
She said the partygate revelations were the “ultimate insult”.
Morrison said: “It seems it doesn’t matter if the plans in place are the best in the world or not.
“If the political comprehension of the coming storm is lacking, and it’s partly driven by pandering – this was directed for the UK side to the loudest MPs in government – irrespective of the science, rather than doing what’s in the best interest of the people, then more people die than would otherwise be the case.
“Many times during the pandemic there was a culture of contempt for the ordinary people.
“As I’ve said before, hubris does not stop a pandemic.
“I think this attitude has been confirmed by the investigation into the so-called partygate scandal.”
Morrison previously spoke of the restrictions on funerals during the pandemic.
On Friday she told how she had to wait seven months following the death of her wife to share a hug with a friend or family member.
She told the inquiry it was “wrong” for lockdown restrictions to prevent mourners from embracing at funerals.
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She went on to speak of Covid-deniers and conspiracy theorists who she believed began to gain “more ground” and became more “vocal”.
However, she maintained: “I think the ultimate insult came when all of the so-called partygate stories came out and people became so angry.
“They felt they’d been treated with absolute contempt and they felt they’d been taken for a ride and treated as mugs.
“That produced so much anger, it’s difficult to find the words to adequately display all of those factors. All of those factors contribute in my view.”
The Scottish Covid-19 Public Inquiry began its Health and Social Care Impact Hearing on Tuesday and heard two days of opening submissions from core participants of the inquiry.
Aamer Anwar, lead solicitor for the Scottish Covid Bereaved, said: "The Scottish Covid Bereaved expect a public inquiry that listens to their voices and those of other core participants who have lost so much.
"In doing so it will provide the foundations for an inquiry that delivers real change and accountability.
"That must be the legacy of the Scottish Inquiry."
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