Kirklees Reform UK councillor denies saying Long Covid ‘made up’

A Reform UK councillor has been challenged over a comment posted on her social media account claiming Long Covid is a myth “made up by the media”.

Wood, who is the leader of Kirklees Council, said the comment was “not made by me and did not reflect my personal views, either then or now”.

She was asked about the post, dated 31 December 2020, by Green Party councillor Andrew Cooper at a council meeting on Tuesday.

He said: “Do you agree with this statement?” before reading the post which said: “Long Covid is not a thing. It was made up by the media. Get a grip.”

Wood replied: “I think you may have a problem with the premise of your question and I did not make that statement.”

In a statement, she later said: “My focus now is on the responsibilities I have been elected to deliver for the people of Kirklees.

“That means fixing the council’s finances, improving services for all Kirklees citizens and keeping people safe.”

She claimed that various supporters had access to the account during political campaigning.

Challenging Wood in the council chamber, Cooper said: “You made that statement, it’s in your social media account, so if you made that statement why do you not agree with it now?

He added: “1.5m people in the UK have Long Covid, it is recognised by the World Health Organisation, the US Centre for Disease and Control and the NHS.

“And yet you say here in a social media post, that it is not a thing and was made up by the media.”