Politics

MP says he is exempt from mask-wearing due to ‘genetic predisposition to liberty’

A Tory MP won the award for the most idiotic excuse for not wearing a mask today.

Speaking to Julia Hartley-Brewer on talkRADIO, Desmond Swayne argued that he was exempt on the basis of his “genetic predisposition to liberty”, much to the bewilderment of people on social media.

In October, Swayne was one of the backbenchers who warned ministers over their face covering “obsession”, saying it could impact people’s mental health.

He said: “When we’re increasingly concerned about mental health, the mask that she was wearing only moments ago deny us the fellowship and reassurance of her friendly facial expression.

“But the material of which it is composed has gaps that are 5,000 times bigger than the virus, aren’t they?”

Watch today’s clip in full below:

Related: WATCH: Piers Corbyn leads anti-vaxxers in excruciating fart song

Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

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