Minister Robert Jenrick comes under fire AGAIN for claiming he understands what it is like to be ‘cooped up’ – after he was caught driving 150 miles from London to his mansion in Herefordshire
- Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick is under increasing pressure to quit
- He allegedly defied travel ban by going 150 miles from London to Herefordshire
- Now faces new claims of trying to ‘con’ public over his domestic arrangements
The Tory Cabinet Minister accused of flouting virus lockdown rules is now under fire for claiming he understands what it is like to be ‘cooped up’.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick is under increasing pressure to quit for allegedly defying a ban on travelling to second homes by going 150 miles from London to his mansion in Herefordshire.
But last night, Mr Jenrick – who insists the country manor house is his main family home – faced new claims of trying to ‘con’ the public over his domestic arrangements.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick is under increasing pressure to quit for allegedly defying a ban on travelling to second homes by going 150 miles from London to his mansion in Herefordshire
The Minister, who with wife Michal Berkner has three small children, told the BBC last week that he understood the plight of families crammed into small flats during the lockdown and the need to keep local parks open.
He said: ‘I am very aware of how difficult this is already. ‘I am a father of young children. I know what it’s like to have a family cooped up…’
But Tory MPs reacted in fury last night to the comments.
One backbencher said: ‘Jenrick’s position was already pretty dire, to be honest.
‘But to go on the radio and claim you understand what it’s like to be cooped up is an insult to my constituents who are enduring the lockdown in small flats.
But last night, Mr Jenrick – who insists the country manor house is his main family home – faced new claims of trying to ‘con’ the public over his domestic arrangements
‘Whether his family were already in that country pile of his or still in his London home, he can’t possibly say that. ‘He really has to go.’
Another Tory MP said: ‘This really is stretching the definition of cooped up to farcical levels.’
In another blow yesterday, one of Mr Jenrick’s neighbours in Herefordshire said the idea that the country manor was his main home was ‘codswallop’.
Mr Jenrick could not be reached for comment last night.