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A Tory MP has faced a barrage of criticism after he claimed he was sent a surgical face mask with a bizarre message describing Covid-19 measures at schools as ‘abusive’.
Not a stranger to controversy, backbencher Sir Desmond Swayne shared a snap of the mask on Twitter, adding that someone sent it to him anonymously and that he agrees with the statement.
It read: ‘Putting germ/ bacteria-ridden cloths over kids’ faces for eight+ hours is abusive’.
His statement came a day before pupils returned to school for the first time after the Christmas holidays and headed to class with a face mask.
The Department for Education has insisted that the new measures will ‘maximise the number of children in school’ for the ‘maximum amount of time’.
The MP for New Forest West is also one of those who voted against new rules requiring people to wear face masks inside shops and on public transport again in November.
Known for his skeptical views on the virus’ impact, the politician has previously been in the news for reportedly spreading ‘dangerous misinformation’ and urging anti-vaxxers to ‘persist’ with their campaign against Government measures.
This time, people were quick to point out that if he was so concerned about children’s wellbeing, he should have voted in favour of free school meals during half-term in 2020.
Mr Swayne was called out by Dave Ward, the general secretary of the Communication Workers Union.
‘This clown face of an MP is outraged by the prospect of children wearing a mask to school but in 2020, when offered the opportunity to make sure those same children got fed over half term, voted against it’, Mr Ward tweeted.
Former MP and justice minister Dr Phillip Lee also said this ‘public display of ignorance on this scale isn’t funny’.
He added: ‘It shows just how screwed up British democracy is in 2022 and how much our politics and wider society must change for Britain to be governed well again.’
Metro has contacted Sir Desmond Swayne for comment.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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