Now Jeremy Corbyn breaks rules at memorial: Former Labour leader was at ‘anarchists’ carnival’ with 100 others a week after he apologised for dining with eight friends
- Jeremy Corbyn attended memorial service which exceeded 30 people maximum
- Former Labour leader was among crowd of about 100 at an ‘anarchists’ carnival’
- Mr Corbyn was last week accused of breaking the rule of six at a dinner party
Jeremy Corbyn was embroiled in another Covid row last night after it emerged he was at a memorial service which exceeded the maximum 30 people allowed to attend.
The former Labour leader was among a crowd of approximately 100 at an ‘anarchists’ carnival’ with live music last weekend in honour of the founder of Occupy Wall Street, David Graeber.
It took place a week after Mr Corbyn apologised for breaking the ‘rule of six’ at a dinner party with eight friends, also in memory of Mr Graeber, who died last month.
Jeremy Corbyn was embroiled in another Covid row last night after it emerged he was at a memorial service which exceeded the maximum 30 people allowed to attend. Packed: Around 100 attended the ‘carnival for anarchists
At last Sunday’s memorial, Mr Corbyn, 71, was photographed on several occasions without a mask, including while in conversation with the organiser, Nika Dubrovsky, who is Mr Graeber’s widow.
She was seated next to Mr Corbyn at the dinner party. His wife Laura Alvarez was also there.
Official Covid rules say that no more than 30 people should attend funerals and memorials. Mourners are urged to obey social distancing rules and delay memorials until after the pandemic if possible.
The ‘memorial carnival’, which took place at Portobello Green in London’s Notting Hill, also featured the Trojans, Mr Graeber’s favourite band.
Live music is discouraged because of the risk of singing spreading the virus and because it encourages people to talk to each other at close quarters. Some, but not all, of those in attendance wore masks.
Unmaksed: Mr Corbyn with another mourner at the event. The ‘memorial carnival’, which took place at Portobello Green in London’s Notting Hill, also featured the Trojans, Mr Graeber’s favourite band
Miss Dubrovsky’s official invitation to the ‘Intergalactic Memorial Carnival’ in London and other global cities to commemorate her late husband stressed its spontaneous nature.
The ‘sunrise to sunset’ events would reflect the ‘mischievous spirit of his anarchism,’ she said.
Miss Dubrovsky urged ‘activists to take over the streets with a mass assembly… anywhere can host a memorial carnival from street corners to cemetery squats’.
She made no mention of the need to guard against coronavirus and joked: ‘There is simple rule: Bring a mask – more carnival than Covid style, of course.’
Miss Dubrovsky called on Mr Graeber’s ‘200,000 friends’ in London to join in, adding, ‘invite all your neighbours, friends and strangers’. Around 100 turned out on the day.
The Government’s coronavirus rules say there is ‘increased risk of transmission of Covid where families and communities come together following the death of a loved one. It is strongly advised that mourners are kept to a maximum of 30’.
Action must be taken to ‘avoid projecting voices loudly including music at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult’.
Nine’s a crowd: Mr Corbyn at a London dinner party, as reported in the Mail on October 2
The rules say ‘post-funeral ceremonies’ – such as memorials – must obey social distancing, advising: ‘Families may consider deferring a memorial until social restrictions are lifted.’
Mr Corbyn did not respond to requests from the Mail to respond.
A spokesman for Westway Trust, a local charity that manages Portobello Green, said it gave permission for the ‘memorial carnival’ to take place. A Trust source said all events were expected to comply with Covid rules, including the limit of 30.
A carnival spokesman said: ‘Organisers performed Covid-related risk assessments, had stewards to enforce them, and were in contact with the authorities.’