MP brands radio host a ‘nutcase’ for Covid theory
A SOUTH Wales MP branded a talk radio host a “nutcase” live on air for his “dangerous” position on the coronavirus herd immunity theory – and then hung up on him.
Rhondda MP Chris Bryant hit out at talkRADIO host Dan Wootton during a feisty appearance to discuss the effectiveness of local lockdowns.
The Labour politician explained the local NHS was in danger of becoming overwhelmed with Covid cases and that’s why a “firebreak” lockdown – which is being introduced on Friday – was necessary.
But things got spiky when, after Mr
Bryant stated his case, Wootton argued for herd immunity to overcome coronavirus.
The controversial theory has seen some argue that coronavirus should be allowed to run its course until a large number of people in the population develop antibodies.
Experts warn this could lead to millions of deaths among vulnerable people, overwhelm health services and may still prove ineffective.
Wootton, an executive editor of The Sun newspaper, said there were “two schools of thought” on the issue of lockdowns, with Mr Bryant hitting back saying on the one side there were scientific experts and on the other “crackpots”.
“You do understand that science has forever used herd immunity to deal with these viruses,” said Wootton, before Mr Bryant interjected with, “You subscribe to herd immunity?”
“There’s a whole load of ways to do it,” said Wootton, before Bryant interjected, “You’re a nutcase, you’re a complete and utter nutcase and you’re dangerous as well.”
“Chris you can go off now. Get rid of this man!” said Wootton, but it was too late as Mr Bryant had already cancelled the call.
Earlier in the call the host said he was angry that people were “at home too scared to go to hospital” resulting in what he claimed were thousands of excess deaths.
Mr Bryant, who was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2018, explained the rationale of lockdowns, saying: “The main thing we’re trying to do in my part of the world is to try and make sure that the NHS isn’t overwhelmed.
“As someone who’s had cancer in the last 18 months I’m painfully aware of the issue you’ve raised about what happens to people who don’t present to their doctor because they are scared.
“But the other side of that problem, and we’ve done really well to make sure that cancer is being dealt with in a Covid-free setting, using the private sector hospitals in Cardiff.
“But the real danger is that if the NHS, if my local general hospital, or the three that serve my area, are overwhelmed and are completely full of Covid, which we’re getting for now, then you try to add a little bit of flu, there will be no space in the hospitals to deal with any other medical condition whatsoever.
“So your argument is a false one, it’s not a choice between trying to care for people with other conditions and Covid. You have to deal with the Covid situation, you have restrict the transmission of the virus if you’re going to stand a chance of treating people with cancer.”
Following Monday’s broadcast, the on-air feud continued on Twitter with the MP calling Wootton “Trump-lite” and a “conspiracy theorist”.
Yesterday, Mr Bryant added that while people were entitled to their own opinion “defying common sense was dangerous”.