Group refused access to Tory conference

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group has been allowed to attend the Conservative party conference after it was left “shocked” at initially being refused access.

The organisation, which represents more than 4,000 families, wanted to lobby MPs at the October event in Manchester amid frustration that they still have not met Boris Johnson or the health secretary, Sajid Javid, despite requests to do so.

Six weeks after seeking accreditation, the group’s application was rejected and they received an email from the party chairman’s office telling them they “do not comment on the reasons behind an individuals’ or groups’ unsuccessful conference application”.

After being contacted for comment the Conservative party said it has now informed the group it could attend and that the initial rejection was an error that had been reviewed.

The group represents bereaved families from all political backgrounds, including members of the Conservative party, it stressed. It has been calling for an urgent public inquiry into the UK’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and greater bereavement support. It initiated the national Covid memorial – the wall of more than 150,000 hand-drawn red hearts on the South Bank of the Thames opposite parliament – one for each of the UK’s Covid dead.

isation a year after he first said he would. Javid said he was “too busy” to meet them earlier this year, the group said.