BBC Breakfast presenter Rachel Burden has been criticised for an insensitive comment made over the weekend about the new Partygate video exposed by The Mirror. The video, which had never previously been seen, showed MPs and Downing Street staff breaking strict Coronavirus lockdown measures by drinking, eating and socialising at a ridiculous Christmas booze-up back in 2020.
It occurred at a time when millions of Britons across the UK were banned from socialising with friends and family indoors, with then-PM Boris Johnson introducing said set of rules at the height of the global pandemic. During yesterday's edition of BBC Breakfast, Rachel riled viewers while discussing the new footage alongside co-host Ben Thompson, and guests Sonia Sodha and George Parker.
She said: "I can hear people around the country groaning, ‘Enough of Partygate already, why should we care about this new video?" sparking a wave of criticism from viewing parties across the UK.
Read more: Families who lost loved ones to Coronavirus 'sickened' by new Partygate video
Many of whom took to Twitter to point out their disagreement and disgust in Rachel's take, with one writing: "I can hear people groaning about this latest video’ is this the government line you’ve been given? She needs to get out & really listen, people are seething that this partying at No10 was going on while loved ones were dying alone."
Another, meanwhile raged: "Your throw away comment about people not being bothered by the Partygate video, shows you are just another Tory #BBC puppet," while a third, went on: "Don’t give this idiotic woman airtime. @bbc5live @rachelburden She’s just another dishonest Tory grifter who is the reason we are in this mess."
The clip was met with widespread outrage when it initially saw the light of day last week, with millions of people across the United Kingdom witnessing MPs flouting lockdown rules, while they couldn't see their own families and loved ones.
Those in the video are even said to have mocked the rules in play, with two Downing Street members dancing with a sign reading: "Please keep your distance."
In the video, another Number 10 employee asks: "Are you filming this?" while someone adds: "As long as we are not streaming that we're like, bending the rules."
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