Michael Gove tells Sir Desmond Swayne to apologise over Covid claims

Michael Gove has told Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne to apologise after he allegedly spread falsehoods about coronavirus. 

The Minister for the Cabinet Office said Sir Desmond was ‘out of order’ and he should issue a ‘full and complete retraction and apology for what he said’.

Labour had already accused former minister Sir Desmond of spreading ‘dangerous misinformation’ about coronavirus and called for the Tories to take action.

Angela Rayner, deputy Labour leader, has written to Conservative Party chairwoman Amanda Milling about alleged remarks made by the veteran politician in which he reportedly said that Covid-19 infection and mortality figures had been ‘manipulated’.

But Sir Desmond this morning refused to back down as he said he was ‘not sure precisely what I’m being asked to apologise for’. 

The Government’s figure for coronavirus deaths passed 100,000 this week, with separate data published by statistics agencies placing the toll at 115,000.

More than 37,000 people are currently in hospital being treated for the virus, according to official data.

In comments reportedly made in November, the lockdown-sceptic Tory MP told the group Save Our Rights UK that the UK was ‘bouncing round at the typical level of deaths for the time of year’.

According to Sky News, Sir Desmond is alleged to have said: ‘It seems to be a manageable risk, particularly as figures have been manipulated… We’re told there is a deathly, deadly pandemic proceeding at the moment.

Michael Gove has told Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne to apologise after he allegedly claimed coronavirus statistics had been ‘manipulated’ 

‘That is difficult to reconcile with ICUs (intensive care units) actually operating at typical occupation levels for the time of year and us bouncing round at the typical level of deaths for the time of year.’

He also reportedly told the group to ‘persist’ with their campaign against lockdown restrictions.

Sir Desmond has denied that he is opposed to vaccinating people to protect them against the virus. But he has previously labelled lockdowns a ‘complete failure’. 

Mr Gove told Sky News this morning: ‘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.’

He declined to say that Sir Desmond should have the whip removed but added: ‘I would hope that he issues a full and complete retraction and apology for what he said – it’s unacceptable.’

In her letter to Ms Milling, Ms Rayner said the reports were ‘extremely concerning’.

‘During this interview, the MP for New Forest West endorsed conspiracy theories about the veracity of the disease,’ she said.

‘He also suggested the official figures have been manipulated – a deeply dangerous claim for which there is absolutely no evidence.

‘The seriousness of his actions cannot be understated. For a Member of Parliament to appear on this platform and undermine our fight against the pandemic could have truly devastating consequences.

‘Following Desmond Swayne’s shocking refusal to apologise for his behaviour, I urge you to make clear what action you will take. It is the duty of all of us to support the national effort to vaccinate Britain.’

Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), which has been investigating online misinformation about coronavirus and vaccines, said Sir Desmond’s words had given ‘legitimacy to crank anti-vaxxers’.

‘This MP’s judgment needs to be seriously questioned when, by virtue of association, he lends legitimacy to crank Anti-Vaxxers and peddlers of falsehoods about Covid,’ Mr Ahmed said.

‘When we wear a mask or get vaccinated, we don’t just protect ourselves, we also protect those we love, the community we spend time in, and in turn help secure our country against coronavirus.

‘While Covid continues to kill, turning science into a political football is a Trumpian act of grotesque irresponsibility.’

Sir Desmond this morning refused to back down as he said: ‘I have always had a great deal of respect for Michael but I’m not sure precisely what I’m being asked to apologise for.

‘I’m evangelical in my support for the vaccination programme. As for my complaints for masking and the use of data, I’m on the record, I’ve said all of those things in the House of Commons.

‘My remarks to them on those subjects mirror what I’ve said in the House of Commons. I was completely unaware that any of them had any traction on anti-vaxx and no anti-vaxx entered into the conversation I had with them.’

He said he was telling the campaigners to ‘persist’ in the campaign against restrictions, but insisted they should stick to the rules.