A SENIOR Tory MP refused to apologise today for telling a group to “persist” in a campaign against coronavirus lockdown restrictions, claiming that he was unaware of their anti-vax position.

Former minister Sir Desmond Swayne argued that he did not know that the group opposed the Covid-19 vaccines but that he agreed with their claims that data on the pandemic is being “manipulated.”

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told him to retract his remarks to the Save Our Rights UK group and apologise.