GB News host Neil Oliver has been widely panned after he said he would "cheerfully risk catching Covid" for the "sake of freedom".
The historian delivered the five-minute monologue on his own show, Neil Oliver Live, referencing World War Two multiple times and declaring that "to be alive is not enough" without living in freedom.
He then said those in the Battle of Britain risked everything for freedom, adding: "I cannot be sure, but I don't think they fought and died so that a government might seize and hold that freedom like a deck of cards, dealing them out one by one, deemed deserving. I think they fought for unconditional freedom."
He then suggested that "there is another Battle of Britain" being fought against those choosing not to take the Covid vaccine and suggested the coronavirus lockdown was like "tyranny".
READ MORE: GB News Scottish misspelling sees Neil Oliver broadcasting from ... where?
He said: "Here's the thing, if your freedom means that I might catch Covid from you then so be it.
"If my freedom means you might catch Covid from me, then so be it. That's honestly how I see it.
"For the sake of freedom, yours and mine together, I will cheerfully risk catching Covid.
"That is a chance, one among many, that I am prepared to take and happily.
"Life is not safe. Freedom is not safe.
"For the sake of freedom, yours and mine together, both being of equal value, I will cheerfully risk much else."
Oliver received widespread backlash for his comments which were branded "death cult thinking".
National contributor Gerry Hassan tweeted: "Death cult thinking: Neil Oliver style. He may have the right to inflict self-harm on himself but not to inflict harm & potential death from #COVID19 on others. A very strange, perverse interpretation of 'freedom'."
Death cult thinking: Neil Oliver style. He may have the right to inflict self-harm on himself but not to inflict harm & potential death from #COVID19 on others. A very strange, perverse interpretation of 'freedom'. pic.twitter.com/7MpFX7GUlw
— Gerry Hassan (@GerryHassan) August 2, 2021
READ MORE: GB News: Andrew Neil brands Neil Oliver the 'King of Scotland'
While journalist Otto English tweeted: "Neil Oliver seems to think that my father, grandfathers and uncle fought in the world wars so that he could put my family's life at risk by not having his vaccination.
"My father would have had words for this.... mine are a little fruitier and rhyme with duck toff"
Neil Oliver seems to think that my father, grandfathers and uncle fought in the world wars so that he could put my family's life at risk by not having his vaccination. My father would have had words for this.... mine are a little fruitier and rhyme with duck toff https://t.co/N2UfBWyVw8
— Otto English (@Otto_English) August 2, 2021
However, not everyone disagreed with the GB News host, with fellow right-winger Laurence Fox tweeting: "You speak for us all. Freedom."
Another user tweeted: "Neil Oliver is right. We are currently fighting a modern day Battle of Britain, we, the unvaxed are 'The Few'. Stand up and be counted. It's now or never."
GB News has been contacted for comment.
I sat next to Neil Oliver on a flight many years ago. he seemed nice and good and sensible. Either something has happened since then or I need my radar adjusted.
— Deborah Meaden 💙 (@DeborahMeaden) August 2, 2021
What is all this, quite frankly bollocks, about FREEDOM!!? Not once during this pandemic have I felt I have or would lose my freedom. Protecting ourselves and others should be a priority. Do the incredible NHS staff have to 'cheerfully' risk their lives if this guy becomes ill? https://t.co/7eMMZXYFEA
— Maria Ogborn (@maria_ogborn) August 2, 2021
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