AN anti-lockdown candidate in the Holyrood election has been denounced by a leading health expert after claiming the Scottish Government has imposed “medical martial law”.
Wayne Darnell is running in the West of Scotland region for Reform UK, formerly known as the Brexit Party. In a series of social media videos, the list candidate railed against mask wearing and lockdown, as well as saying anti-vaxxers are welcome in the party.
He has been pilloried by Professor Linda Bauld, of the University of Edinburgh, as well as one of his top political opponents.
Darnell, who lives in Glengarnock, has spent the past few weeks in Portugal, from where he has posted several videos inviting people to join Reform UK Scotland, an openly anti-lockdown party.
The West of Scotland candidate says they are open to all Covid and vaccine sceptics. “Obviously [vaccines] work, I’ve had loads,” Darnell said in one clip. “I’ve been all around the world, I’ve been jagged for everything. But, it’s ok if you don’t want a jag. It’s your choice, it’s your body. So, welcome.”
READ MORE: Reform Party's Michelle Ballantyne goes on 'anti-lockdown rant' in Holyrood
In a follow-up clip, the regional list candidate continued: “I’m a father, and it’s my responsibility to protect my children. Now more than ever, I feel that my children need protected – from what? Coronavirus? No. From their own government.
“The government is keeping them locked up and masked up and causing them mental anxiety, across the country.
“So that’s why I’m standing and it’s as simple as that honest truth. So if you’re a parent, and you’re concerned about your children’s mental and physical wellbeing at the moment as a result of the government’s medical martial law, which has been going on for about a year now, then I’d encourage you to vote for Reform UK Scotland.”
Bauld told The National that she had concerns about Darnell running for Holyrood.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for a potential member of the Scottish Parliament to be making misleading statements about the pandemic or the measures used to address it,” she said.
“Of course taking up the offer of a vaccine is a personal choice, but it is important to engage with people on this and answer their questions, not send the message that declining it is something to be encouraged. In addition, social distancing isn’t ‘anti-human’, it’s a measure used to reduce the spread of the virus as are face coverings.
“Common measures to address the pandemic have been recommended by the World Health Organisation and used around the world to save lives. They are not ‘medical martial law’. People seeking public office need to make proportionate and responsible statements and some of those I have seen from Mr Darnell are not consistent with that.”
Michelle Campbell, the SNP’s top list candidate in West Scotland, also raised objections, rubbishing the Reform UK candidate’s claims about lockdown.
READ MORE: Reform UK urged to sack candidate who 'liked' 'shocking' posts about the SNP
She commented: “These videos are disrespectful to our key workers and all of us who have sacrificed so much in the fight against Covid-19. Such wild conspiracy theories are dangerous and show the selfishness of those who fail to recognise the impact for those in most need of our support across our nation.
“It is people like Wayne Darnell who are endangering people’s lives by spreading disinformation on social media and making false claims about the effectiveness of lockdown. We have seen the effects lockdown has had, with deaths and hospitalisations falling as a result of everyone staying at home. Mr Darnell’s claims do not stand up to an ounce of scrutiny.”
When approached for comment, a Reform UK Scotland spokesperson said: “Reform UK Scotland is in favour of ending lockdowns and never returning to them, we need to open up our economy and have our individual freedoms of expression, association and assembly returned – without requiring domestic vaccine passports.”
They added: “It is for each individual to choose to have a vaccine or not and declining to have a vaccine should not disbar any candidate from standing for election to the Scottish Parliament.”
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