Rachel Burden, a BBC Breakfast presenter, has faced backlash from viewers after making a ‘throwaway’ statement regarding Partygate.
Tory MPs were caught dancing inside Downing Street during the height of the lockdown in footage from 2020 that was just recently released.
The film was shot during a time when millions of people were barred from socialising due to the Covid restrictions imposed by Boris Johnson’s government.
Since the video was released, many of people have voiced their shock and anger at individuals in the video who were drinking and partying.
Rachel Burden, co-presenter Ben Thompson, and special guests discussed the clip on Sunday’s broadcast of BBC Breakfast.
Rachel, 48, a Breakfast presenter since 2015, enraged viewers at home during the programme by making ‘throwaway’ comments.
She said: ‘I can hear people around the country groaning, “Enough of Partygate already, why should we care about this new video?’”
One viewer questioned whether Rachel had been ‘given lines,’ encouraging her to listen to the viewers at home on whose behalf she was speaking.
‘Is this the government line you’ve been given?’ the comment read. ‘She needs to get out and really listen, people are seething that this partying was going on.’
The viewer also added that ‘loved ones were dying alone’ while the party took place inside No10 – a sentiment shared by many watching on.
Another accused Rachel of being a ‘Tory BBC puppet’ in a message that referred to her words as ‘a throwaway comment’ not representative of the viewership while someone else wrote: ‘Both BBC presenters Thompson & Burden both complaining that they’ve had enough on ‘Partygate’ It’s time to move on (ie just forgive & forget).’
Many viewers, however, backed Rachel, lending credence to her claim that some people watching at home are sick of hearing about it.
‘Do we really need to see more from Partygate? Let it drop,’ one viewer said, defending the comments made by the experienced broadcaster.
People can be heard discussing “breaking the rules” in the footage, while a sign on a wall playfully asks partygoers to “please stay your distance.”
On Monday, MPs will vote on whether to approve the report that determined former Prime Minister Johnson purposefully deceived Parliament over Partygate.
After 14 months of research, it was discovered that Johnson repeatedly deceived the House of Commons during the epidemic.
Watch BBC Breakfast on the BBC and on iPlayer.
