{"id":603521,"date":"2022-04-13T15:24:53","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T15:24:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1580811"},"modified":"2022-04-13T15:24:53","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T15:24:53","slug":"the-daily-mail-goes-into-defence-mode-over-pms-partygate-fine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/04\/13\/the-daily-mail-goes-into-defence-mode-over-pms-partygate-fine\/","title":{"rendered":"The Daily Mail goes into defence mode over PM\u2019s partygate fine"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-beyondwords-player=\"true\" contenteditable=\"false\"><\/div><p>Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, amongst others, have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2022\/apr\/12\/boris-johnson-and-rishi-sunak-fined-for-breaking-covid-lockdown-laws\"  rel=\"noopener\">been given fixed-penalty notices<\/a> for breaking lockdown laws. Both Keir Starmer and Nicola Sturgeon called for the two to resign.\u00a0 A YouGov snap poll showed that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politics.co.uk\/news-in-brief\/two-snap-polls-suggest-most-voters-think-pm-should-resign-over-partygate-scandal\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">most of the public also thought<\/a> Johnson should resign.<\/p>\n<p>Enter the\u00a0<em>Daily Mail.\u00a0<\/em>As Allie Hodgkins-Brown, BBC Home and Foreign Duty Editor, reported:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dILYjTgWpGDdZsQEX1un0r2uwkCXHVxzi9tpabi6VPZfz8JonR1P5Tl9FREqBeS\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Wednesday\u2019s Daily MAIL: \u201cDon\u2019t They Know There\u2019s A War On?\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TomorrowsPapersToday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TomorrowsPapersToday<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ONqJKOLsQ7\">pic.twitter.com\/ONqJKOLsQ7<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AllieHBNews\/status\/1513989381757063179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 12, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Quibbles about the birthday cake not leaving its tupperware aside, it&#8217;s more than a little crass to downplay Johnson and Sunak&#8217;s actions. Actions which, for the record, they have <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2022\/03\/29\/boris-johnson-metropolitan-police-fines-partygate\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">lied<\/a> about multiple times.<\/p>\n<h2>Modern warfare<\/h2>\n<p>It must be said, however, that we are very much not at war with Russia. But before we even come to the conflict in Ukraine, the UK has had a hand in wars in <a title=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-43763605\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-43763605\"  rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Syria<\/a>, <a title=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/opinion\/2022\/03\/22\/blood-on-their-hands-the-estimated-20bn-value-of-uk-made-arms-that-bomb-yemen\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/opinion\/2022\/03\/22\/blood-on-their-hands-the-estimated-20bn-value-of-uk-made-arms-that-bomb-yemen\/\"  rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Yemen<\/a>, <a title=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/video\/2022\/03\/23\/dont-forget-iraq-and-afghanistan\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/video\/2022\/03\/23\/dont-forget-iraq-and-afghanistan\/\"  rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Iraq, Afghanistan<\/a>, and more. The UK&#8217;s involvement in these areas has taken the form of the <a title=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/opinion\/2022\/03\/22\/blood-on-their-hands-the-estimated-20bn-value-of-uk-made-arms-that-bomb-yemen\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/opinion\/2022\/03\/22\/blood-on-their-hands-the-estimated-20bn-value-of-uk-made-arms-that-bomb-yemen\/\"  rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">supply of weapons<\/a>, interventionist approaches to conflict, and the <a title=\"https:\/\/www.opendemocracy.net\/en\/opendemocracyuk\/what-could-a-progressive-alternative-to-the-failed-war-on-terror-look-like\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.opendemocracy.net\/en\/opendemocracyuk\/what-could-a-progressive-alternative-to-the-failed-war-on-terror-look-like\/\"  rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">repeated attempts at a war on terror<\/a>. Thanks to the military industrial complex, war can be outsourced.<\/p>\n<p>Now, for Ukraine. The\u00a0<em>Daily Mail\u00a0<\/em>headline of &#8220;Don&#8217;t they know there&#8217;s a war on?&#8221; makes it sound like Johnson is a beleaguered prime minister holed up in a war room. Like he&#8217;s leading military operations as enemies advance into the UK. That is far from the truth.<\/p>\n<p>While the\u00a0<em>Daily Mail\u00a0<\/em>may struggle to care about more than one issue at once, many others in the country have not been able to afford such luxuries.<\/p>\n<h2>Crumbling NHS<\/h2>\n<p>The strain of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has left almost half of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/society\/2021\/jan\/13\/nhs-icu-staff-ptsd-severe-depression-anxiety\"  rel=\"noopener\">NHS critical care staff with PTSD<\/a>, depression, and anxiety. A<em> Guardian\u00a0<\/em>report from 2021 said:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>More than one in seven clinicians and nearly one in five nurses working in ICU reported thoughts of self-harm or suicide, according to the study, published in the journal Occupational Medicine.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>As news of Johnson and Sunak&#8217;s fines made headlines yesterday, NHS staff expressed their hurt and dismay online.<\/p>\n<p>NHS Dr Meenal Viz said:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ZdokvIoThLUj3FPat4MOrRC0JdKhs3Qn6DlHvf7sTmIqyp5wKFHxqOAxEfeJg1QLpVWw\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NHS staff were working nonstop under horrific pressures.<\/p>\n<p>Many developed severe PTSD as a result of what they experienced.<\/p>\n<p>Many NHS staff contracted covid at work and died.<\/p>\n<p>All while our leaders were out partying.<\/p>\n<p>Then they lied about it.<\/p>\n<p>They simply don&#39;t care about us.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dr Meenal Viz | Free Parking For NHS Staff! <img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/1f499.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc99\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/> (@drmeenalviz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drmeenalviz\/status\/1513913049694060547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 12, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>UK coronavirus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/uk\/news\/2022\/04\/08\/uk-covid-infections-remain-near-or-at-record-levels\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">rates remain near<\/a> or at record levels whilst the NHS is under even more pressure. The British Medical Association (BMA) published an analysis that shows how the pandemic has made things even worse. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bma.org.uk\/advice-and-support\/nhs-delivery-and-workforce\/pressures\/an-nhs-under-pressure\"  rel=\"noopener\">They cite<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>cancelled operations due to a lack of staff<\/li>\n<li>an unsustainable strain on GPs<\/li>\n<li>outdated IT systems<\/li>\n<li>chronic understaffing<\/li>\n<li>insufficient funding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down, the NHS continues to crumble under the pressure. NHS staff who were already struggling are left with a political leadership who quite literally partied while staff were on the frontlines.<\/p>\n<h2>Grief in isolation<\/h2>\n<p>Many other people had to watch loved ones die alone, hold stripped back funerals, and grieve alone. Naturally, many people shared their thoughts on the likes of Sunak and Johnson&#8217;s disregard for lockdown laws.<\/p>\n<p>Louise Dillon&#8217;s son died in 2020, and she shared this memory:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"iknf6lM5flRDFHKQL6LtnyweT54m3WeqZ0g3GH4Evbg0hspwDCKUVERMu87NcjYodNOIFmIk2dP7Pi8AvXTxB\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This \u2018it was just a cake for 10 minutes\u2019 line has to stop. <\/p>\n<p>This was Fred\u2019s 14th birthday. His brother, his friends weren\u2019t allowed to \u2018pop in\u2019. My husband was allowed to be with us, for the first time in over a week. <\/p>\n<p>Fred died a week later. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/partygate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#partygate<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fVJFmaEMA0\">pic.twitter.com\/fVJFmaEMA0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Louise Dillon <img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/1f397.png\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf97\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/> (@dontlookdown_FB) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dontlookdown_FB\/status\/1514128576232271875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Broadcaster Liz Bonnin shared how her mother died alone:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"mCjzwFVIhLSaZXH1rptDWnBNPo4YMu3OxRqbEA8G9UlTkdQ62fsJg5eyvc07i\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I followed the rules, my mother died alone in a covid ward. They lied, broke the rules they made, broke the law while in office. Their \u201cunreserved\u201d apologies and supporting MPs have me so upset I am nauseous. Deeply sad for the state of our society allowing any of this to happen.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Liz Bonnin <img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/1f499.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc99\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/> (@lizbonnin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lizbonnin\/status\/1513964398431379456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 12, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Rachel Curtis described having to be alone during a suspected miscarriage:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"xgqRbJ2NKfVh6I5DECelOokBcnSMUuQW1j89wPtXpZHiTLrGz47mvFYda03\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Prime Minister ignored the laws we all obeyed. I went into hospital, with a suspected miscarriage alone. When I found out my baby had died, I was alone. When I was told I needed surgery I was alone. No friends or family could visit me at home. I will not forget or forgive.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rachel Curtis <img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/1f30d.png\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf0d\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/> <img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/267f.png\" alt=\"\u267f\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/> <img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/1f339.png\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf39\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/> <img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/1f1ea-1f1fa.png\" alt=\"\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/> (@rachelmewes1982) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rachelmewes1982\/status\/1514139463605276675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span><\/p>\n<p>There are countless others across the country who followed the letter and spirit of the lockdown laws. They did so even while their loved ones died alone, when they couldn&#8217;t grieve together with others, when they themselves were in pain. Meanwhile, the political leadership of this country broke the very laws they made.<\/p>\n<h2>Compliant media<\/h2>\n<p>Having the likes of the <em>Daily Mail\u00a0<\/em>brush aside these concerns is to be expected, certainly. However, that doesn&#8217;t make it any easier to stomach. What is not needed in this moment is a compliant media using phoney jingoism to brush any scandals under the carpet. What is needed instead is a media which will reflect the concerns of the people who have been so thoroughly insulted and let down by this government of incompetents.<\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:10_Downing_Street_COVID-19_press_conference,_20_March_2020.png\"  rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\/10 Downing Street<\/a> &#8211; cropped to 770&#215;404, via Open Government License 3.0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>By <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/author\/maryamjameela\/\">Maryam Jameela<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"syndicated-attribution\">This post was originally published on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/uk\/analysis\/2022\/04\/13\/the-daily-mail-goes-into-defence-mode-over-pms-partygate-fine\/\">The Canary<\/a>. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, amongst others, have been given fixed-penalty notices for breaking lockdown laws. Both Keir Starmer and Nicola Sturgeon called for \u2026 <\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/uk\/analysis\/2022\/04\/13\/the-daily-mail-goes-into-defence-mode-over-pms-partygate-fine\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<\/a><\/div>\n<p>By <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/author\/maryamjameela\/\">Maryam Jameela<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1545,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[441,189,12994,40644,6964,1395,204],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/603521"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1545"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=603521"}],"version-history":[{"count":207,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/603521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":627977,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/603521\/revisions\/627977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=603521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=603521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=603521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}