A LABOUR frontbencher has been forced to apologise after a shadow cabinet colleague described the pandemic as a "good crisis" the party can exploit.
Shadow education secretary Kate Green made the comments during a Labour Connected event on Sunday, The Sun newspaper reported.
In a recording obtained by the Guido Fawkes website, Green said: "I think we should use the opportunity ... don't let a good crisis go to waste.
"We can really see now what happens when you under-resource schools, when you under-resource families and communities."
READ MORE: Coronavirus in Scotland: New lockdown plans to come into force within 24 hours
Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi called on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Green to apologise and "stamp out this petty party politics point-scoring".
He tweeted: "That is the reality of the Labour Party. The mask slips. Playing party politics with Covid19.
"Don't let a good crises go to waste" is what they think and now admit.
"@Keir_Starmer & @KateGreenSU should apologise & stamp out this petty party politics point scoring."
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy told ITV's Good Morning Britain that Green is "really upset about the way that that came across".
She added: "Let me apologise for the way that that's come across as well, because nobody thinks there's anything good about this crisis."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel