Skip to main content
Logo icon
Romsey and Southampton North
Conservatives

Main navigation

  • About us
  • News
  • People
  • Events
  • Join
  • Contact
  • Campaigns
  • Survey
  • facebook
  • twitter
Logo icon
Romsey and Southampton North
Conservatives

Caroline Nokes Message From Westminster 14.01.2022

  • Tweet
Friday, 14 January, 2022
  • Reports

 

If a week is a long time in politics this week has seemed it in particular.  We all waited in huge anticipation for PMQs on Wednesday and to discover whether the PM did attend the 20th May event in Downing Street. So I was pleased he admitted the truth, that he was there, but rather than trying to describe it as a work gathering, and saying he wished things had been done differently, I wanted him to acknowledge he should have done things differently.  If we wanted to see leadership during the pandemic we needed to look at Her Majesty the Queen, who mourned her husband, alone in the pew of the Chapel at Windsor Castle.  Other grieving widows did likewise.

 

It is why I said in my email to constituents, helpfully forwarded to Alastair Campbell, that I recognise the efforts Romsey and Southampton North residents have made to do the right thing, abide by the various rules and play their part in helping to stop the spread of the virus.  I am very conscious of the family events missed, the baptisms, the weddings postponed or cancelled altogether. I know graduation ceremonies have happened on line or not at all.  Christmas celebrations, in successive years, have been small and subdued events.  People have not visited their loved ones in care homes and hospital, and have been unable to spend those precious final hours with the terminally ill. 

 

So I feel as let down and as angry as my constituents, the hundreds of them who have emailed this last week.  It may not make me popular with Boris Johnson loyalists, but I acknowledge the behaviour in Downing Street has fallen far short of what the rest of us have managed.  Of course I know people will now be trawling to find when I have broken lock down, but they can be assured I was not at the Downing Street party that day.  I travelled to and from Westminster to Chair my select committee on the 20th May 2020, I attended a number of meetings on MS Teams, and yes that night, I did go to a party, on zoom.  I caught up with friends after work in the comfort of my own home, via my own laptop, drinking my own wine and eating my own crisps. It was not particularly healthy, it was not that much fun, but it was legal.

 

UK Parliament Disclaimer: this e-mail is confidential to the intended recipient. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender and delete it from your system. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, or copying is not permitted. This e-mail has been checked for viruses, but no liability is accepted for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail. This e-mail address is not secure, is not encrypted and should not be used for sensitive data.

You may also be interested in

Caroline Nokes

Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Member of Parliament for Romsey and Southampton North

 Caroline Nokes was born in Lyndhurst in June 1972 and has lived in the immediate Romsey area all her life. She attended various local schools, including Romsey Abbey Primary School, Romsey School and La Sagesse Convent.

Caroline's Week

Friday, 20 June, 2025
This is something of a tricky week to be writing about life and death issues, but they are the topics that have dominated both debates in Parliament and headlines.  This coming Friday we have the Third Reading of the Assisted Dying Bill.

Show only

  • Articles
  • Assembly News
  • Holyrood News
  • Local News
  • National News
  • Reports
  • Speeches in Parliament
  • Westminster News

Join or Renew

Help us take action on local issues and build a better Britain.

accepted-payment-cards

Romsey and Southampton North Conservatives

Footer

  • About RSS
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • About us
Conservatives
  • facebook
  • twitter
Promoted by David Drew on behalf of Romsey and Southampton North Conservatives, both at 13 Market Place, Romsey, SO51 8NA
Copyright 2025 Romsey and Southampton North Conservatives. All rights reserved.
Powered by Bluetree