CONSERVATIVE candidate for Greenlands and Woodrow, Emma Marshall, has come under fire after suggesting poor people might catch Covid-19 ‘deliberately’ for a £500 government payout.
Marshall was referring to a one-off payment, considered by the Government recently, which would see £500 awarded to people who need to self-isolate because of the virus.
In the now deleted tweet, she said: “It would possibly spur the poorest to try to get Covid deliberately just for the payout. If you were that desperate, wouldn’t you?”
She has since apologised, saying she regrets ‘not articulating well’ what she really meant to say.
“Having been a single mother reliant on benefits myself, I understand how difficult life can be,” she said.
“I am eager to work towards ways of improving the lives of people who are facing financial hardship right now.”
The Redditch Conservative Party quickly moved to distance itself from Mrs Marshall’s comments on the weekend.
A party spokesperson said: “The scheme referred to is, we understand, not actually under consideration.
”The tweet does not represent our party’s views. Emma has reflected and since deleted the tweet and apologised.
“As a local party we are committed to helping everyone through this crisis.”
