Tory Cabinet Minister Michael Gove has defended the free speech rights of anti-vaxxers after being confronted by an angry mob this week.
The minister for Levelling UP said he disagreed with the protestors, but noted there would always be people pushing “arrant nonsense” in a democracy.
The senior MP had to be escorted away swiftly by police after he was approached by a group of demonstrators in London this week.
He was chased into a Home Office building in Westminster by what appeared to be anti-vax protesters.
Social media footage showed a number of people with video cameras surrounding Gove before several police officers intervened and moved him into a nearby building.
It came amid concerns over security for MPs following the fatal stabbing of Sir David Amess.
Speaking to the Record, Gove said of anti-vaxxers: “I disagree with them, but beyond that people have a right to express their opinion, and I’ve said in the past that people should be vaccinated.
“The whole point about being in a democracy is that there will always be people who will be pushing arrant nonsense.
“It’s our job to argue back.”
He added: “While I might vigorously disagree with people pushing a point of view, people have a perfect right to make that argument.”
“If we had to put a stop to arrant nonsense everywhere, then we’d never have horoscopes in newspapers.”
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