A council leader who told care workers he loved them during lockdown has been accused of staying silent on a plan that could see hundreds of them sacked. Lawrence Fitzpatrick was filmed playing a tune on his harmonica at the height of the pandemic in May 2020 as a tribute to frontline staff.
The West Lothian Council leader then announced: “Here’s to our wonderful NHS and all our care workers and all our key workers. Keep us safe, keep it up, love you all, thank you.” But his local authority is now working on plans that could see up to six care homes closed or privatised, which has left residents and workers furious.
A spokesperson for the Save Our Care Homes campaign said: “During the Covid pandemic we saw politicians go out of their way to publicly show their support for carers. The leader of West Lothian Council went even further by playing them a tune on his harmonica and expressing his love for NHS and social care staff.
