Rayner hits out at PM's 'new low'

MP for Ashton and Failsworth, Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner, the MP for Ashton and Failsworth and Labour’s Deputy Leader, has spoken out after ear witness confirmation appeared to indicate that Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would rather see “bodies pile high” than order a third lockdown.

The Daily Mail reported Mr Johnson's remarks this morning (Monday), but the PM denied making them, adding that lockdowns had worked.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was "astonished" by the reports.

Ms Rayner said: “It now appears that we have confirmation that as the second wave of Covid took hold and the Government lost control of the virus in the UK, Boris Johnson’s disgraceful reaction was to say “let the bodies pile high".

“The Prime Minister has degraded the office he holds with rampant and overwhelming sleaze.

"But making light of the more than 127,000 deaths that happened on his watch and then trying to cover it up is a new low.

"This must now end.

“The Prime Minister should apologise to all those who have lost someone during the pandemic.”

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