SIR Graham Brady, MP for Altrincham and Sale West and chairman of the Conservative Party’s 1922 Committee, has been more than open in his criticism of government policy throughout the pandemic.

He has not held back when voicing his opposition to stringent virus control measures and has repeatedly voted against what he describes as ‘often pointless’ regulations since March 2020.

Now, after a more than tumultuous year for Trafford and for the whole country draws to a close, Sir Graham has shared his thoughts about the last 12 months.

Q: With rising Covid rates in Trafford, if you could speak directly to your constituents, what would you say to them? And what would your advice to the government be?

A: In March 2020, we were asked to accept a three week ‘lockdown’ while NHS capacity was increased to cope with Covid. That first lockdown extended for three months. Here in Greater Manchester, it was even worse as we were subjected to further severe restrictions through the summer of 2020. We also learned that Covid could increase during lockdown and decrease when restrictions are lifted.

There is still a great deal that isn’t known about the virus and how it transmits but most of the interventions that have been tried have proved ineffective: for example, we now know that Covid rates were falling before each of the three nationwide lockdowns started. We can also see that there is no material difference in the spread of Covid in places that have required the wearing of facemasks and those that didn’t: California and Florida, Wales and England, North and South Dakota.

I don’t have a strong view against wearing facemasks but I do have a strong objection to governments imposing authoritarian laws. That is why I voted against pointless vaccine passports and mandatory vaccinations for NHS workers too. When I voted against the mandatory isolation for ‘suspected’ contacts of Omicron cases, the government won the vote but then dropped the policy just a week later, replacing it with a much more sensible daily testing regime.

We do know that Covid is now an endemic virus and that we will have to live with it for many years. The normal pattern is for viruses to become more transmissible over time but less virulent. Early news from South Africa gives some hope that the Omicron variant might be following that path but it is too soon to be certain.

It is though, likely that we will face many more variants of Covid over time. We need to ask ourselves whether the answer is a constant stop-start of lockdowns and restrictions or whether it would be better to give people good advice and to trust them to make their own decisions.

Broadly speaking, Sweden has trusted its citizens to make their own judgments throughout the last two years: it didn’t ‘lock down’ and Swedish schools were never closed. Sweden is a slightly more urban society than Britain and its Covid outcomes are around the middle of the European league table.

Instead of making it illegal for people to see their children and grandchildren, closing schools and closing businesses, we could have trusted our citizens much more. Ultimately, we have to decide whether we want to live in a country where government ministers can direct every aspect of our lives or whether we want to return to having the dignity of making our own choices.

Q: Do you feel that scientists and SAGE are exerting too much control over the government?

A: Advisers advise, ministers decide, but as we now know, the SAGE scientists were modelling worst case scenarios, not giving the full spectrum. Also, there was no similar body advising on the other cost and damage that would be done by lockdowns. So it was difficult for ministers to strike a balance in which damage to mental health, missed diagnoses and lost livelihoods were weighed alongside the risk of serious illness from Covid.

Q: Have you heard from constituents who have concerns regarding the Downing Street Christmas parties and the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal?

A: Yes. Whilst the regulatory system in Parliament needs reform, it was clearly a mistake to try to address it when a ‘live’ case was proceeding. The row about whether parties took place is entirely reasonable. Those who make the rules should follow them. Those who make extreme and arbitrary rules had better follow those rules to the letter.

Q: Do you believe that the threat from coronavirus and the hospitalisations and numbers justifies the messaging coming from the government? 

A: The danger is that the messaging does more damage by spreading fear and loneliness than it can ever do good by slowing the spread of Covid. People need to enjoy life and the company of their loved ones. For business, the uncertainty is crushing. Whether it’s a restaurant that has taken on more staff for the holidays and doesn’t know whether to buy in stock or not, or a big business like Manchester Airport, regulations which are often pointless and which constantly change are destroying the prosperity on the nation.

Q: Are you satisfied with the government’s performance on the domestic agenda, Brexit, and the pandemic, and does the PM have your confidence?

A: As a Member of Parliament, its part of my job to try to make sure that the Prime Minister and the government are encouraged to move in the right direction. I’ve been very public in my criticism of the Covid response – but I also recognise that its been a very tough situation for any Prime Minister to face. The PM and the Conservative government have my confidence but I want them to trust the British people much more. The Labour Party has become the party that always wants more lockdowns, more job destroying restrictions so its essential that we get this right.

Q: How would you sum up 2021?

A: 2021 has been a disappointing year in many ways, children and young people in particular have missed out on so much. School closure and remote learning in universities has not just impeded learning, it has held back social development and as we have recently seen so painfully, exposed some children to danger.

Since July we have seen people’s self-confidence returning and some colour coming back into people’s lives. The stand out success of the British vaccine programme has vastly reduced the risk of serious illness from Covid and people have embraced that.