A DISTRICT MP is demanding assurances that international organisations won't be given powers to dictate UK actions during any future pandemic.

Philip Davies has voiced concerns over a proposed World Health Organisation pandemic response treaty – which he says could force the UK to close its borders, introduce vaccine passports, and enforce quarantines and lockdown.

The MP, whose Shipley constituency includes Cullingworth and Denholme, spoke on the issue during a parliamentary debate held after more than 116,000 people signed an electronic petition opposing the treaty.

He said: "We are talking about a top-down approach to global public health being hardwired into international law.

"It is absolutely essential that the Government makes a clear and unambiguous promise that it will neither support nor abide by anything that in any way undermines our national sovereignty.

"We have not spent so many years battling to get out of the frying pan of the EU to jump straight back into the fire with the equally unaccountable and undemocratic World Health Organisation."

Mr Davies says any proposed changes must be debated fully in Parliament – and he has vowed to oppose the treaty.

He adds: "The World Health Organisation has no need to rush any of this – we have time to reassess and get it right – and it seems I'm not the only one to think that. In recent weeks, there have been signs that some countries – including Estonia, Slovakia and New Zealand – are also questioning the proposals.

"It's not clear if any member states have submitted formal notices to reject the treaty and opt out, but New Zealand does appear to have lodged a reservation to allow its incoming Government more time to consider whether the amendments are consistent with a national interest test required by law in the country. That is entirely sensible, and I would like to see our own Government take a pause to apply some critical thinking to this situation before blindly supporting the World Health Organisation’s installation as our new global public health power.

"People are concerned with language being used which would change the emphasis from suggesting countries take certain approaches to pandemics, to forcing them to act in certain ways.

"The Government must allow sufficient parliamentary time to robustly debate the proposals. And if MPs are given a vote on the issue, I will vote against the UK signing up to such measures."