The audience at Question Time last night showed support for panel members who criticized a Conservative MP for his party’s handling of the Covid pandemic. In Loughborough, Leicestershire, two individuals asked Tory MP Joe Robertson to apologize for the Conservative Party’s mistakes during the pandemic. Earlier that day, an inquiry revealed that Boris Johnson’s delayed lockdown measures resulted in the deaths of many individuals. The Inquiry chair, Baroness Heather Hallett, described a “toxic culture” within the government.
Although Mr. Robertson was not part of the government at the time, he faced criticism on Question Time. Fellow panelist Josh Babarinde accused Mr. Robertson of dismissing a request for an apology, stating that the country was let down by the government’s management of the situation. Babarinde emphasized the need for accountability and suggested that Boris Johnson should publicly apologize and be barred from holding office in the future.
During the show, the audience applauded Babarinde, a 32-year-old social entrepreneur, for his remarks. He had intervened after Mr. Robertson struggled to address a direct question from a member of the audience about apologizing for lives lost during the pandemic. Despite not being in power during the pandemic, Mr. Robertson did not apologize, leading to further criticism from Babarinde and other panelists.
Comedian Zoe Lyons also criticized the government’s decisions, specifically targeting Boris Johnson’s leadership during the pandemic. This criticism received additional applause from the audience.