30 March 2020

MP Stephen Kinnock publicly shamed by police after visiting father Neil for his birthday

Stephen Kinnock has been publicly shamed by South Wales Police after he failed to comply with lockdown rules by visiting his father to celebrate his 78th birthday.

The MP for Aberavon shared a picture on Twitter over the weekend of him sitting outside the house of  former Labour leader, Neil.

But the police responded to the post, urging him to follow the Government's coronavirus guidelines.

They wrote: "Hello @SKinnock we know celebrating your Dad’s birthday is a lovely thing to do, however this is not essential travel. 

"We all have our part to play in this, we urge you to comply with @GOVUK restrictions, they are in place to keep us all safe. Thank you."

And Kinnock replied stating that it was in fact "essential travel" as he was dropping off "necessary supplies".

Kinnock's journey was condemned on Twitter: "Stephen Kinnock says he drove to give his parents essential supplies. Sounds ok right? He fails to mention he drove over 200 miles from London to Wales to do so.

"Are we meant to believe Neil Kinnock couldn't get help locally? It wasn't & never was essential travel. #StayHome"

Another user wrote: "I live in Dorset. My 92 yr old mother is in hospital in London. Following medical advice myself and my siblings are staying away. What makes Stephen Kinnock's parents more special."

Another user added: "Families all over the country are being kept apart at the moment, and are trying to keep in touch online. 

"Why couldn't Stephen Kinnock do that, it was hardly an essential trip. An MP cannot pass laws for the rest of the country and then ignore them themselves."

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