A DORSET MP said he supports the latest coronavirus restrictions introduced by the government, and said anyone saying “let’s take a gamble” is not “responsible politics”.

Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset, said he will be voting in favour of the third national lockdown since the pandemic began.

Mr Hoare told the Daily Echo: “I think the need for the lockdown, the reasoning behind it, is demonstrable.

“It is regrettable that we have to do it, but there is no alternative.

“I think we will be in this until the end of February half term at least.

“We have got the National Health Service at tipping point of implosion, what are we supposed to do? Sit back and twiddle our thumbs?

“We have tried everything else, we have not come to this decision lightly.

“We have to listen to Prof Whitty and Vallance, do we really want victims of road traffic collisions, heart attacks to suffer, other health demands are still going on.

“If anyone is saying ‘let’s take a gamble’, like a game of Jenga, that is not responsible politics.”

Mr Hoare added that he was lobbying government to add frontline workers like teachers and emergency workers to the priority list of people for the Covid vaccine.

"I would like to see all teachers have a vaccine early on," he said.

"I would like to see our police and fire and other emergency workers also vaccinated if we are expecting people to be on the frontline."