Rosie Duffield resigns from frontbench after admitting lockdown breach
Labour MP for Canterbury, Rosie Duffield, previously in the House of Commons. Photograph: PA. - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
A Labour MP is no longer in a frontbench role after she admitted breaking lockdown rules.
Rosie Duffield, MP for Canterbury, has apologised and is no longer a Labour whip after she met her partner while they were living separately, in breach of coronavirus restrictions.
The Mail on Sunday said that she met her married partner for a long walk in her constituency in April, and that the MP also did not deny he visited her constituency house.
Duffield told the newspaper that the pair observed the two-metre social distancing rules, but these incidents were before meetings between people from different households was allowed.
The pair are now thought to be living in the same property and her partner has separated from his wife.
You may also want to watch:
In a statement Duffield said: 'My partner and I have been attempting to navigate a difficult personal situation as responsibly as possible. I apologise that during that process, we breached the guidelines.
'A relationship breakdown is difficult at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic.
Most Read
- 1 Jacob Rees-Mogg claims fish captured after Brexit deal came into effect were 'British and happier for it'
- 2 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
- 3 Matt Hancock praises free school meals before being reminded he voted against them
- 4 Katie Hopkins joins UKIP in time for leadership contest
- 5 Brexiteer MP ridiculed after calling for free movement of goods between GB and NI
- 6 Spokesman indicates Boris Johnson has not read Brexit trade deal text
- 7 Michel Barnier tells Britain Brexit red tape is here 'for good'
- 8 What Remainers should have done differently
- 9 Brexiteer says he'd never have voted for Brexit 'if we knew we'd lose our jobs'
- 10 Why I'll be making Leave EU's move to Ireland as difficult as possible
'I hope people can understand why I took the steps I did and know that I take responsibility for the breaches that occurred and for which I apologise.'
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
