Gavin Williamson digs hole by suggesting parents responsible for preventing Covid spikes when schools reopen

Gavin Williamson has failed to endear himself with the nation once more, this time by suggesting that if schools reopen and Covid spikes, that’s parents’ fault.

Droning on in an article for the Daily Mail, the education secretary claimed that parents have a responsibility to help prevent schools from closing when they reopen next week by regularly testing their children for the virus.

“School communities still need to follow Covid precautions, especially regular testing for pupils, families and staff. But it is not just a matter for schools,” he said.

“Parents too have a responsibility to make sure that their children are tested regularly.

“I know that there are many things people would rather be doing than testing but it’s really important to make time for it.

“The last thing we want is for schools to partially close again, or for whole classes of pupils to be at home self-isolating. That should only ever be the last resort.”

Reacting, while people noted that regular testing was one key way to avoid the spread of coronavirus, people couldn’t believe his implication that not doing so would be a major factor in leading to school closures and that he didn’t acknowledge the inevitability of cases rising when children mix in schools once more.

Nevertheless, Williamson looked forward to schools reopening. He wrote:

“At long last, we will see children once more free to chase a football around, sing in a choir or just hang out with friends. I am absolutely delighted.”

If Gav doesn’t remember that mixing indoors in poorly ventilated spaces with no social distancing and for long periods of time can help the virus spread, no wonder he can’t remember his A-Level results.