FURIOUS colleagues of a Sky News reporter taken off air for breaching Covid rules have been sharing pictures of him on a sunshine break.
Inzamam Rashid was busted with Kay Burley and the channel’s political editor Beth Rigby out partying at a private club earlier this month.
The three were celebrating Kay’s 60th birthday but bosses were furious with them after pictures of them breaching social distancing, not wearing masks and mixing households were published.
Kay was told she was being taken off air for six months while Inzamam and Beth are off screen for three months and all are still on full pay.
Inzamam, who is Sky News’ northern reporter and is based in Manchester, flew out to Dubai before Christmas and posted a picture of himself on his Instagram dressed in a pink shirt, standing against the iconic tower block skyline and with the caption: ”Smiling through the s**t storm”.
The picture has been widely shared with colleagues at the Sky HQ in Isleworth, West London, and in Manchester, and has left colleagues fuming.
One said: ”The fact he only got three months off air and is being paid for it was hardly seen as punishment. What he did was wrong. He and the others breached the rules and they should have been reprimanded.
”Instead of taking the time to reflect on what he did he just appears to have used it as an excuse to go off on a sunshine holiday in Dubai when others are back here working and putting up with Covid restrictions.
”The feeling is that he is rubbing colleagues’ noses in it and a lot of people are really p****d off. In effect he is having a three-month paid holiday as he’s been told not to do any work.”
Inzamam has not broken any restrictions by flying to Dubai.
After he was taken off air Inzamam told colleagues he felt “awful” and he added he owed them “all an apology”.
He said: “I owe you all an apology. I made a mistake and I feel awful for how my actions might reflect on Sky News and the amazing people who work here.
“What hurts the most is that I’ve seen the hard work, the sacrifice and the very best from everyone during the most challenging of years.
“It’s been a horrendous year for the country and for Sky News there has been huge pressure to tell a global story all the while mixed with the personal sacrifices and hardship you have all had to contend with.
“I let you down and I want you to know I’m very sorry and it will not happen again. As you know by now, I’ll be away for a short period, but I cannot wait to get back to work with you all.”
Last night, when contacted in Dubai, Inzamam declined to comment. He will not have to isolate when he returns to Britain as Dubai is in a travel corridor.
