Covid victims’ families react to Boris Johnson’s Partygate probe: ‘I missed mother’s last moments’

Boris Johnson endured a tense showdown with MPs over Partygate this week

Having missed her last moments due to Covid restrictions, Mick Yates stood two metres apart from his brothers as his mother’s coffin was lowered into her grave on 26 June 2020. A week before, Boris Johnson had been photographed in a room full of at least 30 people celebrating his birthday at a time of strict lockdown rules.

Throughout the pandemic, countless people were in Mr Yates’ position, unable to be with loved ones when they died, and banned from hugging family and friends at funerals – if they were even able to attend. Meanwhile, the then-prime minister attended gatherings at Downing Street, flouting the very rules he was supposed to be enforcing as part of attempts to curb the virus’ spread and reduce pressure on the NHS.

Mr Yates and an NHS worker, who lost three friends in 2020, have shared their experiences during a week when Boris Johnson endured a fraught showdown with MPs who are investigating whether he intentionally misled Parliament over the parties.