Tory MP Andrew Rosindell in stinging attack on Government’s handling of Covid-19 crisis after being axed as trade envoy

A Tory MP today launched a stinging attack on the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis after being axed as a trade envoy for voting against new restrictions.

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell unleashed a series of tweets criticising the strategy, arguing it is unnecessarily damaging the economy, forcing businesses to close and costing jobs.

He was one of more than 40 Conservative MPs who have opposed new clampdown measures.

After being sacked as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Tanzania, a role he had done since 2018, he messaged: “It puzzles me how @BorisJohnson can allow such a counterproductive and bizarre decision to remove me from office, simply for voting to keep our UK economy open for business.

“Yes, we must fight the virus and all threats to the health of our nation, taking every precaution.

“However, closing down whole sections of our economy, putting companies out of business, creating mass unemployment and taking away the freedom that British people cherish, is not the answer and it won’t work. Freedom with responsibility is what I thought @Conservatives stood for!”

Ministers are seeking to strike a balance between combating the growing epidemic while also trying to protect the economy and avoid health harms caused by restrictions.

Labour says the Government should be imposing a national “circuit breaker” lockdown.

However, dozens of Tory MPs say restrictions are already too stringent, and the damage they are causing outweighs the benefits.

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