Tory MP calls for fly-tippers to be strangled with their ripped out intestines

01 February 2024 , 15:37

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Tory MP calls for fly-tippers to be strangled with their ripped out intestines

A Tory MP has bizarrely called for fly-tippers to be viciously strangled with their ripped out intestines in a bizarre intervention.

Hardliner Sir Desmond Swayne claimed existing punishments don't go far enough and suggested strangling people with their own intestines. He was met with bafflement after making the brief comment and then sitting down.

Sir Desmond, who has been an MP since 1997, declared: "The penalties are insufficient. If offenders were garrotted with their own intestines, there would be fewer of them." Bemused environment minister Robbie Moore did not rise to the Hannibal Lecter-esque bait - instead saying that £1,000 fines should be enough to deter criminals.

Sir Desmond Swayne made the violent suggestion in a debate about fly-tipping

He responded: "It's important that councils have the ability to utilise the increased penalty fines of £1,000. We want to see these penalties utilised so we can drive down fly-tipping in all council areas."

Downing Street distanced Rishi Sunak from the remarks, with the Prime Minister's spokesman telling reporters: "I don't think the PM would share that language." The official added that the Government has taken action to reduce fly-tipping and ensure that people "are disincentived and sanctioned" if they are caught doing it.

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After the clip was shared online, on Twitter user wrote: "Just the sort of sane, level headed opinions we’ve come to expect from Conservatives." Another posted: "Desmond Swayne's face looks like he was actually expecting a ministerial response to his suggestion."

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Last year the Government announced maximum fines for people caught fly-tipping could go up from £400 to £1,000. Sir Desmond is no stranger to controversy. In 2021 he came under fire after suggesting Covid data was being "manipulated" in a message seized on by anti-vaxx groups.

He said in a TV interview: "It seems to be a manageable risk, particularly as figures have been manipulated... We're told there is a deathly, deadly pandemic proceeding at the moment. That is difficult to reconcile with ICUs (intensive care units) actually operating at typical occupation levels for the time of year and us bouncing round at the typical level of deaths for the time of year."

Dave Burke