Tory lockdown-sceptic Sir Charles Walker said he fears further lockdowns could be ahead, when asked if he would vote against any delay to the final lifting of coronavirus restrictions in England.
The vice chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “So I just have an overwhelming sense of pessimism now.
“If you can’t lift restrictions at the height of summer, and we are in the height of summer, then you almost certainly are looking at these restrictions persisting and tightening into the autumn and winter.
“I don’t think the July 19 date will be met. If it is, it will be met for weeks before we enter further lockdowns.
“Eventually, if you say you are going to live with Covid-19, ultimately at times you are going to have to tough it out. Existing isn’t living.
“We were told we were going to live with Covid-19 and it now looks like most of the remaining of this year, and certainly the first half of next year, will probably end up with some form of lockdown.”
Asked if he thought the easing of restrictions could be reversed he said: “Yes I do.”
