Winchester City councillor labels public as "lab rats" in 'anti-vax' email sent to colleagues

Judith Clementson appeared to suggest the public are being used as "lab rats" in an email sent to a host of councillors in the south.

The now-independent representative for Denmead referenced the pandemic in quotation marks, before encouraging others to “take a long hard look” at the “dangers to which the human race is being subjected to” by the “untested” mRNA vaccine process.

The email, which was leaked to the Chronicle, was reportedly sent in response to information submitted to the group of local politicians by an individual who was described by one source as an "anti vaxxer and conspiracy theorist type" from the Isle of Wight.

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Winchester City Council has distanced itself from the claims made in the email, while another councillor, who asked not to be named, has labelled the content as "ludicrous".

In one passage Cllr Clementson said: “There could be some truth in the view that the world has become the lab rats of governments, researchers and pharmaceutical organisations who produce viruses and the vaccines to counter them.”

She continued to say the ongoing vaccination push was supported by statistical evidence that is “shown to be incorrect and highly inflated for the purpose of instilling fear in the masses”.

In a further swipe, she claimed the jabs ‘don’t stop people dying from Covid’, before adding that the “continued need for 'boosters' is likely to seriously affect our own immune system’s ability to manage the simple illness that it has always protected us from”.

Cllr Clementson also aimed a dig at Conservative party leader and prime minister Boris Johnson in the email. She said: “Some of the information being put out there by the 'alternative view' is incredible and, quite honestly, it is unbelievable but, if it is just "mumbo jumbo" as Boris puts it, and a feeding frenzy by the 'conspiracy theory' sharks, why is the official Covid message not able to counter those arguments with substantial factual evidence instead of just 'cancelling' the dissenting voices.”

Hampshire County Councillor for Winchester Westgate and Liberal Democrat, Martin Tod, was one of the civic chiefs sent the email by Cllr Clementson. He said: "It's striking when someone elected as a Conservative councillor says she doesn't believe the Conservative Leader.

“And that's the real problem here: Boris Johnson lies so much that when he does actually tell the truth - as he has about vaccines - many people don't believe him.

“Dishonesty in politics is so corrosive - and we see it from Conservatives both nationally and locally. In this case, some people are going to die or suffer unnecessarily because of it.

A spokesperson for the city council said: “The opinions expressed by Judith Clementson in these emails are her own and do not represent the city council’s view on any of the matters covered.”

Cllr Clementson said: “I was elected to serve and, whilst I remain a Councillor, I will continue to serve the residents of Denmead to the best of my ability.

“With regard to Covid, I do not deny that I have shared my views about restrictions and the vaccine suggesting people should consider all the information available before deciding to have it rather than blindly accepting the ‘science’ (which was never actually explained) as quoted by the official Government message.

“We all have that same ability and, currently, the right to do so. I can assure you that I will always continue to research and consider all the available information about any matter that involves my autonomy and personal choice and discern for myself whether it is a good thing.”

SEE ALSO: Cllr Clementson now sitting as an independent councillor

This isn’t the first time Cllr Clementson has been in the spotlight for her controversial views.

In 2020, she was suspended by the Conservative Central Office and investigated by police after becoming embroiled in a race row over a string of ‘Islamophobic’ comments.

Neither the Conservative Party nor Cllr Clementson will say whether she is still a member.

The Chronicle has asked the Conservative head office whether Cllr Clementson remain a party member, but it is yet to respond.

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Kimebrley Barber