A leading councillor has launched an attack on the latest national lockdown, saying it is wrecking the economy.

Cllr Brendan Chilton, leader of the Ashford Labour Party, criticised new restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19, which came into force last week.

In a tweet, Cllr Chilton wrote: “Lockdown is nothing more than an assault of the right of the individual to live, to work and to be free.

“It is a state sponsored and a state enforced recession. An attack on working class communities, on businesses and on enterprise.”

Perhaps explaining part of his frustration is a preceding tweet saying his brother had been made redundant from a major City tax firm.

Speaking further about lockdown this week, Cllr Chilton said: “I think it’s too expensive, we can’t afford it and it’s not sustainable.

“While I understand the government’s motives, experience has shown us this isn’t a sustainable method for controlling the virus. I imagine when it ends cases will once again rise dramatically.”

Cllr Chilton, who stood as Labour parliamentary candidate at the 2015 general election, said: “The lockdown’s having a terrible impact on the national and local economy. The government’s shutting down the economy while continuing to borrow and spend huge amounts.

“It’s going to mean cuts to public services or higher taxes in the future.”

In reference to Ashford, he added: “The economy of the borough was in trouble before the pandemic.

“When you add Covid on top of that, it’s not hard to think of the damage being done to businesses in the area.

“The economy is not growing and the lockdown will just lead to unemployment, fewer jobs available and more empty shops.”

Ashford’s Conservative MP Damian Green said last week he had “very reluctantly” voted for the new restrictions but questioned whether a lockdown was needed in areas like Ashford with lower infection rates.

He also welcomed the extension of the furlough scheme and highlighted more funds being released by the treasury to help the self-employed through lockdown.

Cllr Chilton's views oppose those of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who urged his colleagues to back the lockdown in a parliamentary vote last week.

The government was successful in getting the second lockdown approved in a vote last Wednesday, however the move was opposed by a number of Labour members as well as some Conservatives.

Among the ruling party's rebel MPs was former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, while former Prime Minister Theresa May was one of 19 Conservatives who abstained.

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