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Laurence Fox claims he had ‘lovely’ lunch with ‘large group’ of friends in string of anti-lockdown tweets

<p>Laurence Fox </p> (Dave Benett)

Laurence Fox

(Dave Benett)

Laurence Fox has boasted of having a “lovely” lunch with a “large group” of friends in an apparent breach of lockdown rules.

The actor, who said the group also “hugged” during the meet-up, made the claims in a string of tweets as he hit out at the new tier system and said the NHS was not “fit for purpose” if it cannot cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.

He tweeted: “Just had a large group over to lunch and we hugged and ate and talked and put the world to rights.

“It was lovely. You’ll never take that away from people.

"Stay out. Protect your rights.

“If the @nhs can’t cope, then the @nhs isn’t fit for purpose. Compliance is violence.”

Twitter users were quick to loop in the Metropolitan Police’s account, urging officers to give him a fine.

Asked about Mr Fox's tweets, the Prime Minister's spokesman said: “The Prime Minister has been clear of the need for everybody across the country to continue to abide by the rules in order to reduce the transmission of the virus, but, as I said, it’s up to police to decide what action to take.”

If you break lockdown rules, you could get a fixed penalty notice (FPN). Since March, almost 20,000 have been issued.

The fines start at £200, rising to £6,400. Large parties can be shut down by the police - with fines of up to £10,000.

In a further tweet, Mr Fox urged people: “Go out. Enjoy yourselves. Be happy.”

He also hit out at the new tier system, due to be voted on tomorrow by MPs and to come into force on Wednesday, if passed in the Commons.

He wrote: "No more lockdown restrictions beyond the 2nd of December. None. We need a full inquiry into the governments handling of this pandemic ASAP.

“We must remember never give our freedom away again, under such spurious circumstances.”

He also said of the NHS: "The@nhs isn’t my church and salvation. It’s employees aren’t my saviours.

“If you can’t deal with a 99.9% survival rate virus, you aren’t fit for purpose. You don’t need protecting, my elderly relatives do. I also love your emergency care and will continue to pay for it. For now.”

Police are investigating allegations of racist and homophobic abuse targeted at the BBC’s LGBT correspondent after Mr Fox tweeted about him.

Mr Fox appeared to share a screenshot of the journalist Ben Hunte’s Twitter profile next to the message: “So glad I’m not paying for this anymore.”

The post seems to have since been deleted.

Mr Hunte said Mr Fox’s original tweet sparked discriminatory messages towards him and his family, and that he will “let the police take over”.

Earlier this month The Pogues told Mr Fox to “F*** off you little herrenvolk s****” after he blasted the BBC for censoring their Christmas anthem Fairytale of New York.

Mr Fox and the Metropolitan Police have been approached for comment.