DUP politician went online shopping during covid meeting

By Michael McHugh, PA

A DUP Assembly member in Northern Ireland went shopping online while he was in a committee examining the official coronavirus response.

Alex Easton has apologised for disrespecting the health committee after he was filmed looking at shoes.

Officials from the Public Health Agency (PHA) were giving evidence at Stormont.

Mr Easton said his shoes were worn through and the shops were closed, but that was not an excuse.

I appreciate the ‘let he who has not sinned cast the first stone’ comment about this but it is the height of disrespect to our NHS and key workers across NI.

Alex Easton MLA is paid a handsome salary to sit and listen during health committee.

Not buy new shoes. pic.twitter.com/40sKA7ABoy

— Councillor Peter McReynolds (@cllr_petermcrey) May 7, 2020

He added: "I apologise unreservedly for disrespecting the committee.

"I should have found time outside of the committee to resolve the matter.

"It will not happen again."

The North Down Assembly member added: "I have also written to the Assembly speaker and the committee chairman expressing my apologies."

His party leader, Arlene Foster, said he was in the wrong.

She said: "Alex has accepted that he should not have been doing that.

"He should not have been shopping online at a time when we are in this health crisis.

"We need to ensure that we continue to work very hard to deal with the issues in front of us, to take in what is sometimes a lot of information coming at us.

"It was wrong and it should not have happened."

On matter of DUP MLA Alex Easton pictured online shopping during Health Committee - @DUPleader says
"Of course it was wrong and shouldn't have happened."
The FM says Mr Easton has apologised and "rightly so". pic.twitter.com/xN6GDmWYkn

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) May 7, 2020

Mr Easton has a health service background and has spent many years scrutinising NHS issues at the Assembly.

He has raised issues like use of do not resuscitate notices on elderly patients in hospital previously.

He stood unsuccessfully to be an MP in December's general election.