MP Richard Drax says he is ‘astounded’ at the ‘utterly extraordinary’ decision to place Dorset in Tier 2 regulations, adding: “Even in wartime, our country was not subjected to restrictions like this.”

The South Dorset MP has hit out at yesterday’s announcement by the Government to increase restrictions in the Dorset Council area once national lockdown ends on December 2.

Dorset was previously in Tier 1 before the latest national lockdown came into force on November 5 and has among the lowest case rates in the country.

Restrictions in the ‘high risk’ tier - which will also cover Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council - include a ban on socialising with anyone you don’t live with or not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place.

The ‘rule of six’ is still in place for socialising outside, whilst pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants.

Mr Drax said: “With only 80 cases for every 100,000 people in South Dorset, I’m astounded that we’ve been put into Tier 2.We were at Tier 1 before, so how can we possibly need even more severe restrictions than before the lockdown?

“I have been contacted by constituents and businesses and they are asking that same perfectly reasonable question.

“It is extraordinary that we are being told that we cannot have who we want even in our own homes. It is, in effect, being imprisoned. We should, as perfectly responsible citizens, decide who can come into our houses and who cannot. Even in wartime we were not subjected to restrictions like this.

“The Chancellor made clear the utter devastation these lockdowns are having on our economy and all aspects of it. And the solution? Carry on destroying lives and livelihoods! The economy is not just money and jobs - it is also health, mental health, the NHS and lives.

“I have huge sympathy with the people and families of those who have suffered with Covid, and we should be protecting our most vulnerable, but generally it is a tiny proportion that is affected seriously. The majority are then paying a horrific price.

“We need a new strategy based on common sense, not fear and more fear.”

The Covid Recovery Group, of which Mr Drax is a member, has branded the newly-announced tiered Covid restrictions as “authoritarian” and demanded the publication of a full cost-benefit analysis of the impact of the decision on the health and the economy of each area.

Steve Baker MP, deputy chair of the CRG, has questioned the necessity of the new restrictions.

He said: “The authoritarianism at work today is truly appalling. But is it necessary and proportionate to the threat from this disease? The Government must publish its analysis of the impact interventions are likely to have on controlling Covid, as well as the non-Covid health impact and the impact on society, people’s livelihoods and businesses.

“I am open to supporting measures where it can clearly be demonstrated that the government intervention will save more lives than it costs - as long as this data and analysis is published in full and in time ahead of any votes in Parliament, so that MPs and the public have a chance to scrutinise it.” Visit the Dorset Echo website for full Tier 2 details.

“In this context, crucially, there are fundamental methodological issues with epidemiological modelling. Last month I released a report by senior software engineer Mike Hearn. Today we presented it to Minister of State for Health, Edward Argar. We are making the report and slides available now.

“The work shows, as we saw recently with projections relating to deaths and hospital capacity, that these models are wrong time and time again. How much longer can we go on with this rubbish determining the course of all our lives?

“We must have change, and that change must include ending narrow monopoly expert advice to government.

“In complex, contested fields with huge impact like this pandemic, expert scientific opinion must be provided by competitive, multi-disciplinary expert groups, with devil’s advocate challenge, and government must publish in full for review all those models which guide public policy.”