Speaking on ITV this morning, Kate said: ‘I haven’t had one for myself. The only polling card that’s come through the door is for Derek, sadly, who’s passed away.’
Thousands of voters across the UK have been caught up in chaos over postal ballot issues ahead of the General Election today.
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Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway, 57, (pictured today) revealed that she received a polling card for her late husband in the post
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Derek was amongst the first wave of people to fall seriously ill with COVID-19 in the United Kingdom after testing positive as the country entered lockdown in March 2020
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The New Labour spin doctor reached great heights of influence in the 1990s but became best known for his involvement in the ‘lobbygate’ scandal
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A former researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson, Derek Draper became a director of lobbying firm GPC Market Access in 1996 and set up the New Labour organisation Progress with Liam Byrne, who went on to become an MP
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Derek Draper (circled) is seen standing next to Labour grandees including Neil Kinnock, John Prescott and Peter Mandelson (right) in 1997 after Tony Blair’s landslide election win
Derek was amongst the first wave of people to fall seriously ill with COVID-19 in the United Kingdom after testing positive as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.
He was one of the country’s longest suffering COVID patients but never fully recovered and needed round-the-clock care after the virus left long-lasting damage to his internal organs.
Broadcaster Kate has spoken candidly about losing her husband and has also opened up about her perilous financial state, caused by spending so much on his care.
She has been ordered to pay the £32,000 flat fee as well as 40 per cent of assets recovered from psychotherapeutic company Astra Aspera.
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Speaking on ITV this morning, Kate said: ‘I haven’t had one for myself. The only polling card that’s come through the door is for Derek, sadly, who’s passed away’
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She was talking on the show as she and co-host Adil Ray interviewed an election specialist about the practicalities of voting
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In 2005, Mr Draper married Kate Garraway, the GMTV co-presenter who is now part of the Good Morning Britain team on ITV and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in November 2019. Above: The couple in 2008
She previously revealed she resorted to withdrawing money from her pension pot to pay the huge bills from Derek’s medical care.
In an ITV documentary in April, the star admitted she couldn’t even afford to have the heating on in October.
Ahead of voters heading to the polls today, concerns have been mounting that thousands could miss out on the opportunity to vote after up to 90 constituencies reported problems with ballots not arriving on time.
The crisis has been caused by councils not printing enough ballot papers and Royal Mail not delivering on time, it has been claimed.
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Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair arrives for Derek Draper’s funeral at St Mary the Virgin Church in Primrose Hill with his wife Cherie
Despite coming under fire for the delays, Royal Mail denies being the cause, blaming the tight timetable set by the government after Rishi Sunak called a snap July 4 election on May 22.
The deadline for registering for a postal vote was June 19 – but some people have yet to receive their ballot pack.
For a vote to be eligible, postal votes must have reached councils by 10pm on polling day.
Postal voting has grown in popularity over the years, with numbers rising from 937,000 in 1997 to 8.2 million in 2019.
This election is expected to see over 10 million postal votes, a 20 per cent increase from 2019, according to the Mirror.
The tight schedule has put additional pressure on councils to print and send out ballots correctly and securely.
Councils and electoral administrators have raised concerns that the timetable is too tight – 11 working days from the deadline – as printing postal votes is a complicated process and election teams need to carry out additional security checks.
MARCH 2020
Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got ‘relatively close’ at the Prince’s Trust Awards on March 11 – Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March.
She said: ‘Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] ‘god you look ill.’
‘He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe,
‘I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance’
Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition.
APRIL
Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed ‘mild symptoms’.
Kate said: ‘Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I’m afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time.
‘I’m afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.’
MAY
Kate said: ‘The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight.
‘But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.’
That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers
She said: ‘I’ll never give up on that because Derek’s the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty’
JUNE
On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body
JULY
On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition.
On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to ‘get on with life’ during Derek’s recovery.
She added that Derek had ‘opened his eyes’ after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years.
On July 13, Kate returned to GMB for the first time since Derek was hospitalised.
On July 28, Kate revealed she’d paid an ‘extra emotional’ first visit to Derek, and admitted she’s ‘frustrated’ by his slow progress.
AUGUST
On August 14, Kate reassured GMB viewers that Derek was ‘still with us,’ but it was ‘a waiting game.’
On August 19, Kate revealed she celebrated Derek’s birthday with their two children, and described the day as ‘challenging’ for her family.
SEPTEMBER
At the end of September, Derek reportedly becomes the longest surviving patient with coronavirus after spending 184 days in and out of intensive care.
Kate reveals Derek has lost eight stone during his battle.
The presenter announces she is returning to her Smooth Radio show so Derek can hear her voice.
OCTOBER
On October 30 Kate reveals that Derek has spoken for the first time in seven months, saying the word ‘pain’ to his wife, who watched on ‘in tears’ over FaceTime.
Kate says a day later that her husband no longer needs a ventilator to breathe.
NOVEMBER
Kate reveals her family car has been stolen in latest ‘body blow’ to her family life, as kind-hearted fans offer their cars to help.
She says she feels ‘physically sick’ at the prospect of facing her first Christmas without Derek.
DECEMBER
The GMB star tells viewers it is her dream to visit Derek on Christmas Day.
She also reveals she missed two weeks on GMB after her children were exposed to the virus, but thankfully she and the kids tested negative.
On December 17, Kate has an emotional conversation live on GMB with two nurses who treated Derek when he was first admitted to Whittington Hospital in North London.
On New Year’s Eve she reflects on a ‘calamitous’ Christmas without Derek, as her house was flooded and she struggled to get a food delivery slot until her pal Emma Willis stepped in to help.
JANUARY 2021
Kate reveals she and her children got to visit Derek in hospital over the Christmas period, and it was the first time her family had seen him since he was hospitalised.
She also says she’s banned from seeing him due to new restrictions introduced during the government’s third lockdown.
FEBRUARY
Kate reveals she is unsure how much Derek will ‘ever be able to recover’ following warning from doctors that he may never wake from his coma
MARCH
Kate revealed that was in the process of adapting her home to suit Derek’s needs when he is finally released from hospital, in the ITV documentary Finding Derek.
The programmed was praised by viewers for offering a heartbreaking look at the long-term effects of coronavirus.
Kate also revealed that Derek has ‘no muscle left’ since battling Covid
APRIL
Kate revealed that Derek was finally allowed to leave hospital, but would require round-the-clock care once he was returned home.
MAY
Kate revealed that despite now being home with his family, his communication abilities were ‘minimal’ and he ‘couldn’t really move’
DECEMBER
During an appearance on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, Kate revealed that Derek had said ‘I love you’ for the first time.
After celebrating Christmas, Derek was also pictured in a wheelchair during a trip to the pantomime with his family
JANUARY 2022
Kate revealed that Derek was ‘very fatigued’ and ‘very weak’ following the family outing, adding: ‘I don’t know what this year is going to bring.’
FEBRUARY
Kate offered a glimpse into the daily struggles of looking after her husband amid his battle with long Covid in the documentary Caring For Derek
She also revealed that Derek would die within three days if he was left alone to care for himself.
JULY
On July 6, Kate revealed that Derek had been re-admitted to hospital after suffering a ‘downturn,’ and in a later interview said she takes things ‘day by day.’
On July 20, it was reported that Kate had pulled out of hosting Good Morning Britain to be at Derek’s bedside after he took a ‘very serious’ turn for the worse.
Recalling the day, the presenter told The Sun: ‘At one point Derek said to me, “This is it, this time. I am gone.” It was just terrifying.
‘His sepsis was gut-wrenching for all of us because it had gone undiagnosed until the point where it was about to take his life away again.’
JANUARY 2023
Kate became overwhelmed as she confronted former health secretary Matt Hancock over his handling of the pandemic and his decision to go on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here.
She then became tearful and looked up as she spoke about Derek, who has been unwell for approaching three years.
Describing public anger towards him, Kate added of his decision: ‘This gives the impression you still don’t get why they are cross. You still don’t get why people are upset. They want to hold you to more account.’
APRIL
Kate revealed that Derek was once again receiving care in hospital, as she shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the ‘inspiring’ couple.
She shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the ‘inspiring’ couple, writing on Instagram: ‘Yes Derek has been back in hospital this week & yes there’s such a long road ahead but #eltonjohn & @davidfurnish you gave the kids & Derek a moment that we will never forget and has lifted their spirits again to feel anything is possible.’
It was also reported that Kate was planning a trip across the world for pioneering treatment in a ‘final hope’ to help her husband.
MAY
Kate reportedly faced a huge £716,000 tax bill after she was forced to close her husband’s business two years after he became stricken with Covid-19.
The final total will be settled within the coming weeks, with friends insisting she will pay whatever is owed.
A friend told The Sun: ‘The figures are terrifying and Kate is of course worried about all the financial pressures, but she has to trust the process.
‘When it comes to an end, she is determined to pay back anything that’s owed.
‘It’s no secret that Kate has been battling to keep her husband alive and working through some heartbreaking situations in her personal life in recent years.
‘Sadly as well as the emotional stress of Derek’s terrible illnesses the financial burden has also been crippling.’
DECEMBER
Derek was left fighting for his life after suffering a heart attack.
Kate held a 24/7 vigil by his bedside and cancelled all work commitments while the family ‘prayed for a miracle’.
A source said: ‘It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.
‘This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him. Kate is by his side 24 hours a day and is willing him on to win this latest battle for his life.
‘Derek has fought so many times, and always, against all odds, come out the other side.’
JANUARY 2024
Kate announced on January 5 that Derek had passed away.
She said: ‘Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.
‘I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible’.
MailOnline understands he passed away on January 3 in a North London hospital.
He is survived by wife Kate and their children Darcey, 17, and son William, 14.
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