A Conservative MP has come under fire after claims he spread "dangerous misinformation" about coronavirus.
Sir Desmond Swayne told an anti-lockdown group that statistics on the virus "appear to have been manipulated" and risks to the NHS were "manageable".
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the comments were "unacceptable" and called for him to apologise.
But the New Forest West MP has stood by his remarks, telling Sky News he held a "legitimate point of view".
Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, has called for the prime minister to "intervene urgently", having earlier written to the Conservative Party party chairwoman about his conduct.
She said Boris Johnson should "condemn these comments and take action", adding: "A failure to do so risks undermining our national effort to defeat this virus, combat dangerous anti-vaccine disinformation and vaccinate Britain".
Mr Gove said he hoped Sir Desmond "would issue a full and complete retraction and apology for what he said".
Sir Desmond - who has been a frequent critic of lockdown measures in Parliament - declined to comment on the story when contacted by the BBC.
But he told Sky News he had already complained in the Commons about "the way in which statistics have been presented and data has been revealed" during the pandemic and he was "not clear as to what what I am being asked to apologise for".
It is understood the party's Chief Whip, Mark Spencer, will speak to the MP and ask him to attend a meeting with scientific advisers.
'The situation has changed'
Sir Desmond spoke to the anti-lockdown group - which also questions the safety of the vaccine - during a recorded interview in November.
He told them the virus "seems to be a manageable risk, particularly as figures have been manipulated".
"We're told there is a deathly, deadly pandemic proceeding at the moment. That is difficult to reconcile with ICUs (intensive care units) actually operating at typical occupation levels for the time of year and us bouncing round at the typical level of deaths for the time of year," he said in the interview.
The interview has surfaced as the UK passed 100,000 deaths linked to the virus and NHS data shows over 37,000 people are in hospital with Covid-19.
Asked if he would apologise for his comments, Sir Desmond said "no" and claimed any action against him by his party would be a "thought crime".
He added: "I accept entirely that the situation has changed and changed dramatically as a consequence of the new variant.
"But I think they were perfectly legitimate and widely held views at the time."
'Shocking'
In her letter to the Conservative Party, Ms Rayner said the backbench MP had "used an interview to spread dangerous misinformation about coronavirus," and urged Tory chiefs to "make clear what action you will take".
Conservative chairwoman Amanda Milling said she "completely condemns" Sir Desmond's comments.
But Ms Rayner has now called on the prime minster to get involved after Sir Desmond refused to apologise.
She said: "Spreading disinformation and promoting conspiracy theories undermines the national effort to defeat this virus, puts lives at risk and is an insult to the families and loved ones of everyone who has tragically lost their lives to this terrible virus and our NHS staff who are working round the clock to save lives."
A spokesperson for the Conservative Whips Office also condemned Sir Desmond's comments, adding: "[It is] on all of us to work together to control the virus to protect the NHS and save lives."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiL2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLXBvbGl0aWNzLTU1ODM5MjUy0gEzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYW1wL3VrLXBvbGl0aWNzLTU1ODM5MjUy?oc=5
2021-01-28 12:09:00Z
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