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.

He condemned his party colleague as “completely out of order.”

But Mr Gove stopped short of saying whether he thought that Sir Desmond should be suspended or expelled from the Conservative Party.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “take urgent action” against Sir Desmond for “promoting conspiracy theories.”

She accused the New Forest West MP of “undermining the national effort to defeat coronavirus.”

Dozens of arrests have taken place during anti-lockdown marches organised by Save Our Rights UK.

The group also claims that vaccines are “being rushed through safety testing.”

Sir Desmond claimed to  be “evangelical” in his support for the Covid-19 vaccine programme, adding that his Commons criticism of the use of health data and coronavirus measures was a matter of record.

After his comments emerged, he doubled down, insisting that they were “an important part” of his job and it was his “duty” to make them.

Responing to Mr Gove, Sir Desmond said: “I have always had a great deal of respect for Michael, but I’m not sure precisely what I’m being asked to apologise for.”

The Conservative Party has refused to suspend Sir Desmond over his remark or for agreeing to be interviewed by US anti-vaxxer Del Bigtree.

He told Mr Bigtree this month that Britain has become “a police state” and accused the government of seeking “social control” through rules such as the mandatory wearing of face masks.

A Conservative Whips’ Office spokesman said that the party “completely condemns” his comments.

It is understood that Sir Desmond will be asked to meet with scientific advisers.

Hope Not Hate said today that Sir Desmond had been a guest on The Richie Allen Show in November, an internet broadcast which the campaign group described as “Britain’s leading anti-semitic conspiracy theory show.”

On the programme, the MP claimed that Britain’s 50,000 Covid-related deaths since March were what could be expected “in a bad flu season.”

Since November, the number of Covid-related deaths has more than doubled, surpassing 100,000 this week.