Furious Tory MP accuses Boris Johnson of running a ‘Ministry of Fear’ with new COVID restrictions

A Conservative MP launched a furious rant at Boris Johnson's government on Tuesday, accusing it of running a "ministry of fear" during the pandemic.

Sir Desmond Swayne, the MP for New Forest West, criticised groups like the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), and accused them of "twisting the fear lever" during a debate on new COVID-19 restrictions.

Today, Professor Chris Whitty told the Cabinet to prepare for a "significant number of hospital admissions" amid concerns the number of new Omicron cases could be as high as 200,000 every day.

Watch:Minister confirms rapid increase of Omicron infections in UK

However, backbench rebels say the government is over-reacting and restricting people's liberties.

"That's the situation that we have delivered: the government, having administered this ministry of fear, is absolutely complicit with its officials and its organisations that have designed it and delivered it," he said.

"They have abandoned, in doing that, any principle of social democracy - of liberal democracy - absolutely beyond anything that we’ve endured in recent living memory in the history of this pandemic."

His comments come ahead of a vote in parliament on Tuesday evening on the introduction of new coronavirus measures - including requiring evidence of vaccination or a negative lateral flow test to enter large events or nightclubs.

Sir Desmond is one of a growing number of Tory MPs planning to rebel on Tuesday night at a vote on new restrictions the government say are critical to halt the growth of Omicron.

The rebellion could end up being so severe that Boris Johnson has to rely on Labour to pass the restrictions, a significant blow to his leadership.