Sammy Wilson is a moronic fool, says Doug Beattie in spat over Covid closures
Sammy Wilson, a vocal lockdown critic, tweeted his version of Hark The Herald Angels Sing after fresh Covid-19 restrictions were announced by the Stormont Executive.
The measures were backed by Mr Wilson’s own party, with DUP First Minister Paul Givan joining deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Health Minister Robin Swann to announce steps that included the closure of nightclubs and bolstered restrictions on hospitality and workplaces.
“Hark the herald angels ping,” the East Antrim MP tweeted.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Robin Swann won’t let us do a thing. No more parties, work at home. In the streets you cannot roam
“Omni is far worse than the delta curse. Stay at home. Or they’ll be far worse to come.”
Mr Swann’s Ulster Unionist party leader Doug Beattie condemned Mr Wilson.
He said: “Juvenile, pathetic, moronic, self indulgent, narcissistic fool who jokes as people get sick, as people die, as families grieve.
“Northern Ireland Deserves Better.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt is the latest in a line of controversies involving Mr Wilson during the pandemic.
The veteran MP has been accused on several occasions of undermining his own party’s position on public health measures to combat Covid-19.
Last month, as he announced his intent to vote against new coronavirus restrictions in England, he adapted another Christmas carol as he described the Omicron variant as “mild”.
“Ding dong merrily on high will be replaced this Christmas by ping-dong miserably we sigh,” he tweeted.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“I will vote against new restrictions in Parliament today. They are not proportionate to deal with the spread of the mild omicron variant.”
Challenged about the tweet, DUP party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson insisted that Covid-19 was “no joking matter”.
Dr Alan Stout, the chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee in Northern Ireland, also condemned Mr Wilson’s latest tweet.
“Thoroughly disrespectful to so many and nothing short of pathetic. Sadly not unexpected,” he said.
——— ———
A message from the Editor:
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
With the coronavirus lockdowns having had a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.
Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.
Visit
now to sign up.
Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.
Ben Lowry, Editor