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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: Isle of Wight MP admits lockdown 'barbecue' visit | Coronavirus: Isle of Wight MP admits lockdown 'barbecue' visit |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A Conservative MP has admitted he failed to follow lockdown guidance when he reportedly attended a barbecue. | A Conservative MP has admitted he failed to follow lockdown guidance when he reportedly attended a barbecue. |
| Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely went to an evening gathering at a journalist's home in Seaview on 22 May, according to the Guardian newspaper. | Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely went to an evening gathering at a journalist's home in Seaview on 22 May, according to the Guardian newspaper. |
| Mr Seely said he and his girlfriend met the man for a work-related discussion and ate "half a sausage", but did not enter the house or have a drink. | Mr Seely said he and his girlfriend met the man for a work-related discussion and ate "half a sausage", but did not enter the house or have a drink. |
| The local Green Party said "islanders will rightly be furious". | The local Green Party said "islanders will rightly be furious". |
| Mr Seely apologised, saying he should have left when he saw others were there. | Mr Seely apologised, saying he should have left when he saw others were there. |
| Calling for the MP to consider standing down, Green Party spokesperson Vix Lowthion said: "Thousands of his constituents have not seen their own grandchildren, parents and friends. | Calling for the MP to consider standing down, Green Party spokesperson Vix Lowthion said: "Thousands of his constituents have not seen their own grandchildren, parents and friends. |
| "Islanders will rightly be furious to read that our MP broke lockdown rules through going to a BBQ with journalists at their second home on the island on bank holiday weekend." | "Islanders will rightly be furious to read that our MP broke lockdown rules through going to a BBQ with journalists at their second home on the island on bank holiday weekend." |
| At the time people could only meet one other person from another household at a distance in a public place. | At the time people could only meet one other person from another household at a distance in a public place. |
| Mr Seely, who is leading efforts to promote the trial of the Covid-19 contact-tracing app on the island, said the journalist had wanted to discuss the project with him. | Mr Seely, who is leading efforts to promote the trial of the Covid-19 contact-tracing app on the island, said the journalist had wanted to discuss the project with him. |
| 'Called this wrong' | 'Called this wrong' |
| In a statement, he said: "When I arrived, I saw another couple of people there, which I was not expecting. I thought about leaving, but felt that was perhaps over-reacting. | In a statement, he said: "When I arrived, I saw another couple of people there, which I was not expecting. I thought about leaving, but felt that was perhaps over-reacting. |
| "I apologise because, on balance, I called this wrong. It would have been better to have spoken to this person without any others nearby." | |
| The MP said he talked to the journalist for about 35 minutes "at a sensible distance". | The MP said he talked to the journalist for about 35 minutes "at a sensible distance". |
| He added his girlfriend had accompanied him because it was "after normal working hours". | He added his girlfriend had accompanied him because it was "after normal working hours". |
| Asked later on Isle of Wight Radio whether the event was a barbecue, he replied: "I think I probably had half a sausage... but did not treat it as a social event because I was there for work." | Asked later on Isle of Wight Radio whether the event was a barbecue, he replied: "I think I probably had half a sausage... but did not treat it as a social event because I was there for work." |
| The Home Office said it would not comment on an individual and reiterated current guidance was "for everyone". | The Home Office said it would not comment on an individual and reiterated current guidance was "for everyone". |
| The Cabinet Office has not yet responded to a BBC request for comment. | The Cabinet Office has not yet responded to a BBC request for comment. |
| Current rules, after lockdown was further eased on 28 May, allow groups of up to six people from different households to meet in private gardens. | Current rules, after lockdown was further eased on 28 May, allow groups of up to six people from different households to meet in private gardens. |