MP Robin Walker: Battle of Britain event was not a mistake

Conservative MP Mr Walker attended a commemorative event which was held outside in the open air in Madresfield on September 13, and a photo shared on social media showed him posing for a picture with three other people while standing close together.

This prompted some people to criticise the MP, however he has pointed out that the event was the day before the 'rule of six' began and he added: "If we knew then what we know now, we would have been further apart."

Commenting on his decision to attend the event which honoured a hero Polish airman, Mr Walker said: "I don't think it was a mistake to be there, I just think we could have been further apart. This was an important civic event and it was right that there were representatives from the city and councils, from across parties, there."

Following our initial report on Saturday, many of our readers supported the MP's decision to attend the event but others criticised him for standing closer than two metres to other people while there.

Lee Peplow said: “How can these people put rules in place when they can’t follow them themselves?”

Stephen Hodgson said: “All elected representatives should set an example, not just MPs.”

George Monague said: “It was an event for a Battle of Britain hero attended before [the latest] Covid-19 rules were enforced. Thank you Robin and others for not hiding away in a cupboard and attending key events.”

Speaking to the Worcester News on Friday, Mr Walker said: “The photograph was taken as I was leaving an event which had been carefully managed and socially distanced. As the guidance was tightened the following day with the PM’s announcement on the rule of six, I would not have been able to attend an event of this nature after the change to the guidance and have not done so since.”

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