A former leader of Cambridgeshire County Council provoked outrage after claiming the coronavirus lockdown “infringes our basic human rights”.

Cambs Times: Selection of reactions on Twitter to former Cambridgeshire County Council leader Nick Clarke and his his view that lockdown infringes basic human rights, Picture: TWITTERSelection of reactions on Twitter to former Cambridgeshire County Council leader Nick Clarke and his his view that lockdown infringes basic human rights, Picture: TWITTER (Image: Archant)

Nick Clarke, who led the Conservative controlled county council until his defeat in 2013, later left the party to join UKIP.

He tweeted yesterday that “the problem with this protracted lockdown is that it infringes our basic human rights to associate, socialise and to self-determination.

“We all have the right to carry out actions even if they are not in our best interest. I don’t know anyone who has died from the virus”.

Mr Clarke, who now lives in Suffolk, also tweeted: “It’s probably sensible for those living in urban areas to maintain a lockdown but for those living in the rural areas it doesn’t make sense”.

Cambs Times: Selection of reactions on Twitter to former Cambridgeshire County Council leader Nick Clarke and his his view that lockdown infringes basic human rights, Picture: TWITTERSelection of reactions on Twitter to former Cambridgeshire County Council leader Nick Clarke and his his view that lockdown infringes basic human rights, Picture: TWITTER (Image: Archant)

He followed up these with a further tweet today in which he says he is “looking forward to seeing some relaxation of the lockdown from Boris Johnson tonight”.

Mr Clarke, an unsuccessful candidate in 2016 for police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire, also tweeted: “We must not get used to being given permission by governments to carry on our lives. Liberty is too important to be taken for granted.”

Cllr Mike Sergeant, a Labour member of Cambridge City Council, responded on Twitter that “Nick Clarke might be happy to endanger himself but the problem is that he is endangering everyone else and especially key workers”.

West Country Lib Dem councillor Ross Henley tweeted: “I’ve always thought having watched Nick Clarke in action that he is the most deluded person i have ever met in my long local government life.”

Cambs Times: Selection of reactions on Twitter to former Cambridgeshire County Council leader Nick Clarke and his his view that lockdown infringes basic human rights, Picture: TWITTERSelection of reactions on Twitter to former Cambridgeshire County Council leader Nick Clarke and his his view that lockdown infringes basic human rights, Picture: TWITTER (Image: Archant)

Huntingdon councillor Tom Sanderson tweeted, simply, “that’s Nick for you”.

WHAT DO YOU THINK: Email your thoughts to john.elworthy@archant,co.uk

Cambs Times: Selection of reactions on Twitter to former Cambridgeshire County Council leader Nick Clarke and his his view that lockdown infringes basic human rights, Picture: TWITTERSelection of reactions on Twitter to former Cambridgeshire County Council leader Nick Clarke and his his view that lockdown infringes basic human rights, Picture: TWITTER (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Selection of reactions on Twitter to former Cambridgeshire County Council leader Nick Clarke and his his view that lockdown infringes basic human rights, Picture: TWITTERSelection of reactions on Twitter to former Cambridgeshire County Council leader Nick Clarke and his his view that lockdown infringes basic human rights, Picture: TWITTER (Image: Archant)