A DEMOCRATIC Unionist Party MP has been criticised for a tweet he wrote in which he uses a Christmas carol to comment on Northern Ireland's Health Minister and Covid restrictions.
Sammy Wilson, a critic of lockdown measures, tweeted a version of 'Hark The Herald Angels Sing' after fresh Covid-19 restrictions were announced by the Stormont Executive.
Among the measures announced include the closure of nightclubs from 6am on 26 December and a return to table service in hospitality from 27 December, however restrictions are far less severe than in Scotland and Wales.
The measures were supported by Wilson’s own party, with DUP First Minister Paul Givan joining deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Health Minister Robin Swann to announce them.
"Hark the herald angels ping," the East Antrim MP tweeted.
"Robin Swann won’t let us do a thing. No more parties, work at home. In the streets you cannot roam.
"Omni is far worse than the delta curse. Stay at home. Or they’ll be far worse to come."
Swann’s Ulster Unionist party leader Doug Beattie condemned Wilson, tweeting:
Juvenile, pathetic, moronic, self indulgent, narcissistic fool who jokes as people get sick, as people die, as families grieve.
Northern Ireland Deserves Better https://t.co/3Um4c018MI— Doug Beattie (@BeattieDoug) December 22, 2021
Wilson has been accused on several occasions of undermining his party’s position on public health measures.
In November, when announced his intent to vote against new coronavirus restrictions in England, he adapted another Christmas carol as he described the Omicron variant as "mild":
Ding dong merrily on high will be replaced this Christmas by ping-dong miserably we sigh.
I will vote against new restrictions in Parliament today.
They are not proportionate to deal with the spread of the mild omicron variant.— Sammy Wilson MP 🇺🇦🇬🇧 (@eastantrimmp) November 30, 2021
When asked about that tweet, party leader Jeffrey Donaldson insisted that Covid-19 was "no joking matter".
