Coronavirus: Boris Johnson ‘heartless’ for not meeting bereaved families

GB NEWS 24 DESK//

Campaigners representing families whose loved ones have died from coronavirus have accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of being “heartless” in declining to meet with them.

Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said it wrote to Mr Johnson five times to request a meeting.

Asked by reporters about the letters, the PM said he would “of course” meet anyone bereaved by Covid-19.

But days later he wrote to the group to say he was “unable” to meet them.

The group, which says it represents 1,600 families, said it was “devastated” to receive the letter, which it has made public.

Jo Goodman, co-founder of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said: “The prime minister has done a 360 – dodging five letters, then agreeing on live TV to meet with us, and now quietly telling us he’s too busy. It’s heartless.”

“Of course we know the prime minister can’t meet every bereaved person, but we really feel he should be meeting one of the largest groups of bereaved families in the country.”

Ms Goodman, who lost her father Stuart to the virus, added: “It feels like we’re the wrong type of bereaved people – like the prime minister only wants to meet with people who will smile and not ask difficult questions.”

A Downing Street spokesperson said the PM remained committed to meeting people who have been bereaved as a result of Covid-19, and that he was “resolute in his determination to beat this virus” to prevent further “dreadful loss”.