The Bath pub co-owner who asked Sir Keir Starmer to leave earlier today (Monday, April 17) backed down from his owner’s comments.
Co-owner Tim Perry said the point of view of Rod Humphris, who had told the Labor leader to ‘get out’ of the pub earlier, did not reflect that of the company.
The Labor leader’s visit to Bath to promote a new campaign in support of the high streets has been overshadowed by Mr Humphris accusing him of failing the country.
Mr Humphris said the country had “wrecked its economy because the elderly are dying” and said Sir Keir Starmer had failed as leader of the opposition.
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Mr Perry said: “The pub is blamed for it. We are dying on social media, when in fact it was Rod who voiced these opinions, not me. “
The Labor leader said he disagreed “deeply” with Mr Humphris’ views on the lockdown and cast doubt on whether he believed there was a pandemic.
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Mr Humphris told Sir Keir during the angry April 19 confrontation: “I am glowing about the work you have done. This country has damaged its economy because the elderly are dying.
“You let me down. I have been a Labor voter all my life. You were not the opposition. You did not ask if the lock is working.
“Thousands of people have died because you didn’t do your job and ask the real questions.
“You allowed our children to wear masks in schools when there was never any evidence of it.”
Sir Keir, whose wife works in the NHS, said hospitals were almost inundated with coronavirus cases “so I really don’t need to tell you about this pandemic”.
His team ushered him into the Raven but Mr. Humphris tried to force him out saying, “This man is not allowed in my pub.” Get out of my pub!
The video went viral, with some saying they would not be visiting the Raven, while others praised Mr Humphris.
Mr Humphris was without excuse and said the pub should never have been locked.
“It is obvious that lockdowns do not save lives,” he said in an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
“For me, it’s a question of principle. It’s bigger than anything that’s going on right now. It’s bigger than this pub.
“If it damages the ad – whatever. It’s more serious than that.
Sir Keir was in Bath with Labor candidate for mayor of the region, Dan Norris, to start a high streets support commission.
He told LDRS: “He [Mr Humphris] deeply thought we shouldn’t have had a lockdown, we shouldn’t have restrictions, and I’m not sure he really thought there was a pandemic.
“He’s entitled to that point of view. I strongly disagree with him, and I think the vast majority of people in Bath and the country will strongly disagree with him.
“Some people think we don’t need restrictions – I don’t, because I’ve seen how many people have tragically lost their lives from this virus, I haven’t because as my wife works in the NHS and I know the impact on her hospital and how close it was to being overwhelmed.
“He took a different point of view. I strongly disagree.
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-04-19 16:10:44
