One reader recalls her son’s heartbreaking funeral on the day of a gathering in the Downing Street garden. Plus letters from Stephanie Gaunt, Keith Flett, Catherine Wykes, William Moloney, Maureen Vilar and Dr Paul Somerfield
Today, 20 December, would have been my son’s 47th birthday. On 19 May 2020, four days after the picture was taken of the prime minister partying in the Downing Street garden (Report, 19 December), my son’s funeral took place. The number of people allowed to attend funerals was limited. In normal times the place would have been full. Church services were not allowed. No singing was allowed. You couldn’t even have an order of service printed. You could only have one floral arrangement, no other flowers. We had to sit at a two-metre distance from each other and wear masks throughout. We all had to leave and go straight home, as holding even a small socially distanced gathering was illegal. You were not allowed to meet indoors or in gardens and pubs, and restaurants were closed. Looking at the picture of a man with no moral compass justifying this as a work meeting is truly insulting.
Name and address supplied
• As a human resources consultant with considerable experience, it concerns me greatly that according to your recent picture, 10 Downing Street apparently has no “alcohol at work” policy in force. No 10 may be a home, but it is also a workplace, and we have been assured that the photo shows a work meeting. A typical policy states: “The company requires all employees to report for duty free from the effects of alcohol and drugs. It is not acceptable to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at work or consume alcohol or drugs during hours of work – this includes paid and unpaid breaks.”
