Sir Desmond Swayne told to apologise after telling a coronavirus denying group to persist with claims
28 January 2021 • 1:43pm
Sir Desmond Swayne has been called out by Michael Gove for completely out of order remarks
Sir Desmond Swayne has been told to apologise after telling a coronavirus denying group to “persist” with its claims.
The senior Tory MP told the Save Our Rights UK group, which argues wrongly that vaccines are being rushed through safety testing and has posted discussions online with conspiracy theorist David Icke, that some Covid-19 figures have been manipulated and called on them to persist in their campaign.
The senior Cabinet minister told Sky News: “Sir Desmond is wrong.
“I work with Sir Desmond, I have great affection for him, but I’m afraid here he is completely out of order.”
Pressed if he thinks the MP should be kicked out of the Tory Party if he does not apologise, Mr Gove said: “I think it’s for Sir Desmond to make that apology to retract and withdraw his words and I’m sure he will reflect on that mistake and I’m sure he will be very clear it was a serious mistake and an apology will be forthcoming.”
Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne has refused to apologise for telling vaccine sceptics to persist with their campaign against coronavirus lockdown restrictions, arguing he was unaware of their position on jabs.
Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, told Sir Desmond to retract his remarks and apologise, condemning his Conservative colleague as completely out of order .
The Conservative Party has declined to suspend the lockdown-sceptic over his comments, or for a separate interview with anti-vaxxer Del Bigtree, and it is understood he will be asked to attend meetings with scientific advisers.
Sir Desmond reportedly told the Save Our Rights UK group, which argues that vaccines are being rushed through safety testing and has posted discussions online with conspiracy theorist David Icke, that some Covid-19 figures have been manipulated and called on them to persist in their campaign.
Desmond Swayne told vaccine sceptics to persist with their anti-lockdown campaigns A SENIOR Tory MP has refused to apologise for telling vaccine sceptics to “persist” with their campaign against lockdown restrictions, claiming he was unaware of their position on jags. Cabinet member Michael Gove told former minister Sir Desmond Swayne to retract his remarks and apologise today, condemning his colleague as “completely out of order”. The Tories have declined to suspend the lockdown sceptic over his comments, or for a separate interview with anti-vaxxer Del Bigtree, and it is understood he will be asked to attend meetings with scientific advisers.
Submitting.
The remarks, made in November, have led to members of the Tory party calling for an apology while Labour say it undermines the government s message.
Sir Desmond Swayne has come under fire for comments he made to a group of vaccine sceptics. (Pic: Getty Images)
The comments surfaced as the UK passed 100,000 coronavirus deaths and NHS data showing more than 37,000 people were in hospital with the virus.
What did Sir Desmond Swayne say to Save Our Rights UK?
Sir Desmond s comments emerged in the wake of Prime Minister Boris Johnson extending current national lockdown measures, as the UK continues to limit the spread of Covid-19.