'Claims I broke coronavirus guidance are completely false', High Peak MP says

The MP has come under fire from consitutents after posting on social media about visiting areas in the High Peak over the weekend, just after he returned from London.

His social media shows that he led a debate in Westminster Hall, London on December 16, before visiting Buxton and Sterndale Moor four days later on Sunday December 20. He has now confirmed to the Buxton Advertiser that he returned to the High Peak on the afternoon of Saturday December 19.

The Tier 4 restrictions for London came into force on Sunday December 20, after being announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a press conference on Saturday December 19.

Tier 4 restrictions require people to stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse, and to not travel out of the area other than for a number of legally permitted reasons such as education or attending a medical appointment. The Tier 4 rules have been introduced after a new strain of coronavirus was found to be spreading more rapidly in London and the south east.

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Mr Largan says he has not broken any rules, he came back from London before it was placed into Tier 4 restrictions, and was not required to self-isolate.

Posting on Facebook on Tuesday night, he said: "To be clear, I haven’t “travelled from Tier 4” and haven’t broken any Covid rules.

"I hope those repeating this false claim all over social media have the decency to delete their false posts.

“It’s pretty sad that, 12 months on, some people still haven’t gotten over the result of the general election and feel the need to constantly post lies about me.

“I’ll leave the nastiness and lying to others. I’ll get on with standing up for the High Peak.”

A number of local residents have questioned the MP on social media, asking for clarification on when exactly Mr Largan returned to the High Peak, and suggesting he should have been isolating as a precaution.

Posting on Twitter Rob Jones said: “Considering you just came from Tier 4 London. You should have been isolating, and not potentially spreading the new strain. Did you not think, or did you not care?”

Jim Medway also tweeted: “Can someone please confirm the rumours that our MP has NOT been self isolating as required since returning home from #tier4 ? Facebook suggests he was recognised in Mountain Warehouse Glossop.”

And Birch Vale resident Anne Copley told the Buxton Advertiser: “I understand he says he didn’t break any rules which may be true but he was in London and he should have shown some common sense and caring by isolating when he returned to set a good example.”

In an additional statement to the Advertiser after being questioned when he returned to the borough, Mr Largan said: “The claims that I broke Coronavirus guidance are completely false.

"My last day in Parliament was on Thursday and I departed London to return home to Glossop on Saturday afternoon before Tier 4 was introduced. My travel was within the rules and I travelled by car to limit my exposure to others.”

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