Family's giant letter protest outside MP's office over Matt Hancock scandal
Jamie Turner and his mum Karen were joined by friends as they displayed a three-metre-high letter to Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford outside his office in Dinnington.
The letter condemned Mr Hancock, who resigned recently over images appearing to show him kissing an aide at his government offices, and called on Mr Stafford to speak out against him.
Jamie, of Harthill, said he had been barred by Covid-19 rules from visiting his stepfather, Brian Turner, in hospital before his death in May.
“Only my mum was allowed to visit him and that was only a few times a week for a short period,” he said.
“He died of pneumonia, and it was just awful.
“We were not allowed in to see him and most of the time he was in there on his own.
“Because of the ongoing restrictions we weren’t able to see him - that made everything worse.
“When I saw the story about Matt Hancock, I was completely speechless.
“My first reaction was laughter because it was so ridiculous. But when I thought about what we have been through, it is just not right.
“It seems like there’s one rule for them and one for the rest of us – it made me feel I just had to speak up.”
Jamie, who produced the giant letter at his own printing company, said: “It is just saying to Alex Stafford that he is supposed to represent us and speak up for us, but he did not say anything about it.
“I hope Mr Stafford will commit to defending the people of the Rother Valley and improving things for Rother Valley people.
“I want him to stand up for us not just when it suits his career, just stand up for us full stop.”
Jamie said he was a member of the Labour party but said the protest was "not political - it is completely personal".
Mr Stafford saw things differently, saying: “I am aware of a small gathering of Labour activists outside my constituency office, led by the person who runs the Rother Valley Labour Party Facebook Page, former Labour councillors and failed Labour candidates.
“Unfortunately, I was not present at the time as I was holding an open street surgery in Maltby, helping residents across the area.
“Matt Hancock made the right decision in resigning. We should all be following the rules around coronavirus because that is the only way we can forge a path to normality.
“Absolutely no-one is above the rules, and the Government's position reflects that.
“Covid should not be a political game, so I am disappointed, but hardly surprised that Labour are once again trying any stunt to try and remain relevant after successive disastrous elections in Rother Valley.”