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| Coronavirus: Leicester mayor apologises for breaking lockdown rules | Coronavirus: Leicester mayor apologises for breaking lockdown rules |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The mayor of Leicester has apologised for "an error of judgement" after it was revealed he broke lockdown rules twice by visiting his partner. | The mayor of Leicester has apologised for "an error of judgement" after it was revealed he broke lockdown rules twice by visiting his partner. |
| Sir Peter Soulsby admitted visiting Lesley Summerland and staying at her house overnight before government guidelines allowed it. | Sir Peter Soulsby admitted visiting Lesley Summerland and staying at her house overnight before government guidelines allowed it. |
| The Sun on Sunday published pictures of the former Leicester South MP fitting a window to Ms Summerland's home. | The Sun on Sunday published pictures of the former Leicester South MP fitting a window to Ms Summerland's home. |
| Sir Peter said "far more influential people" had flouted the lockdown rules. | Sir Peter said "far more influential people" had flouted the lockdown rules. |
| At the beginning of lockdown, England's deputy chief medical officer warned against partners living in separate households meeting up. | At the beginning of lockdown, England's deputy chief medical officer warned against partners living in separate households meeting up. |
| Dr Jenny Harries said couples may want to consider testing "their strength of feeling" and moving in together during lockdown. | Dr Jenny Harries said couples may want to consider testing "their strength of feeling" and moving in together during lockdown. |
| However, the 71-year-old Labour politician said that would not have been practical as he was continuing to work and his partner of five years needed to be "available to support her family". | However, the 71-year-old Labour politician said that would not have been practical as he was continuing to work and his partner of five years needed to be "available to support her family". |
| The widower said the couple had been separated for five weeks but then "Lesley became ill" with a recurring condition that was not coronavirus-related. | The widower said the couple had been separated for five weeks but then "Lesley became ill" with a recurring condition that was not coronavirus-related. |
| He said he spent three nights at her home at the end of April - the peak of the pandemic so far in the UK. | |
| He spent a further four nights to "secure the property" by fixing a window at the front of the house in May. | |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, he said he did apologise for the error of judgement and admitted "it was setting a very bad example". | Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, he said he did apologise for the error of judgement and admitted "it was setting a very bad example". |
| However, he added: "I don't think anybody would claim that there was anything in my behaviour that ran any risk whatsoever of spreading the virus. | However, he added: "I don't think anybody would claim that there was anything in my behaviour that ran any risk whatsoever of spreading the virus. |
| "It can be certainly interpreted as against the spirit of the lockdown, if not against the regulations." | "It can be certainly interpreted as against the spirit of the lockdown, if not against the regulations." |
| He said he had been "ready to apologise" unlike "some of the high-profile people who are far more influential in setting policy about this than I am". | He said he had been "ready to apologise" unlike "some of the high-profile people who are far more influential in setting policy about this than I am". |
| In March, Sir Peter reiterated government advice by telling residents to stay at home and only go to work if their job was considered essential. | |
| Leicester Conservatives have called Sir Peter's breach of the regulations "clear hypocrisy" and called on councillors and MPs to demand his resignation. | Leicester Conservatives have called Sir Peter's breach of the regulations "clear hypocrisy" and called on councillors and MPs to demand his resignation. |
| Labour councillor Lindsay Broadwell tweeted: "This merits a resignation in my book." | Labour councillor Lindsay Broadwell tweeted: "This merits a resignation in my book." |
| Sir Peter said he hoped his fellow councillors did not "rush to judgement". | Sir Peter said he hoped his fellow councillors did not "rush to judgement". |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |