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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Mikey Smith

Jess Phillips had the perfect response to a Tory MP moaning about wearing a mask

Labour MP Jess Phillips gave a sassy response to a Tory MP who moaned about having to wear a mask.

Sir Desmond Swayne, who made headlines last year after he admitted to wearing blackface to a party and refused to apologise, has frequently complained about having to wear a face covering in public.

He's described the infringement on his liberties as "monstrous".

And last night on Channel 4 News, he complained that the rules had been put in place without a Commons vote.

He said: "The government has been governing since the beginning of this crisis by diktat."

(Getty Images)

And he added: "I think it's awful having to cover your face and go about like Darth Vader."

When the broadcaster tweeted his comments, Ms Phillips shot back: "You want to try wearing a bra just for one day mate."

While Sir Desmond angrily objects to dressing up as Darth Vader, he had no such objection to applying blackface make-up to attend a party as Godfather of Soul James Brown.

When pictures emerged of the incident, Sir Desmond said blacking up was "fun", he was not sorry, and the only reason he wouldn't do it again is because it was hard to wash off.

When it was first suggested that face coverings should be worn in shops, Swayne hit out despite masks being designed to protect other people, and at the time more than 44,000 people having died with coronavirus in the UK - saying it would put him off going to the shops.

The 63-year-old complained he and his constituents in New Forest West were "outraged and reluctant" and questioned how police would enforce the law.

He added: "Nothing would make me less likely to go shopping than the thought of having to mask up.

"Was this consultation with the police force and particularly the chief constable of Hampshire?

"For it is she that will have to enforce this monstrous imposition against myself and a number of outraged and reluctant constituents."

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