Sir Graham Brady voted against the government’s new “authoritarian” coronavirus restrictions to combat the Omicron variant.
The new legislation – which was passed by 424 to 22 MPs – will tighten up isolation rules and makes mask-wearing compulsory on public transport and in shops.
Under the new restrictions anyone who comes into contact with the Omicron variant – whether vaccinated or unvaccinated – will be forced to self-isolate.
Sir Graham raised concerns about the “efficacy of what is being proposed” and warned against government “mission creep”.
The Altrincham and Sale West MP and chairman of the 1922 committee was one of the more prominent figures to vote against the motion, and has been a fierce critic of curbs to peoples’ freedoms.
Boris Johnson promised the new rules will be reviewed in three weeks’ time.
Early indicators suggest the fresh strain could be more transmissible because of the large number of spike protein mutations.
Despite rising fears within government cases in England are down week on week for the fourth day running.
In a statement to Altrincham Today, Sir Graham said: “We are dealing no longer with a pandemic, but with an endemic virus that will be with us for many, many years and probably forever in some form. New variants will occur from time to time.”
He added: “We mustn’t let government get into the habit of introducing authoritarian restrictions at will, people should make their own choices about how to live safely in a world with COVID. It’s time to trust people, engage with the public and recognise that the Government is there to serve the people, not the other way around.”
