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A number of scientists have come under fire as tensions flare over the handling of the pandemic, with some of the attacks coming from fellow academics.

However, it was warned that this is making sensible debate about the virus impossible.

Last week, Professor Robert Dingwall, who has sat on a number of government advisory committees, faced a storm of Twitter abuse after he was alleged to have downplayed long Covid.

He had suggested that there may be other causes for the condition and pointed out that more research needed to be carried out into it.

Prof Dingwall said: “I have never denied that there seems to be a post-viral syndrome associated with coronavirus.

“My concern is that we do not have a good definition of how it is linked to the infection in order to offer effective treatments.”

The Sunday Express has previously highlighted an email circulated among a number of scientists that criticised fellow experts, including Oxford Professor Carl Heneghan, who has questioned lockdown measures.

Prof Sunetra Gupta, also of Oxford, says she faced an “astonishing backlash” for calling for a focused protection approach.

Leading oncologist Karol Sikora — who has pointed out the collateral harms of lockdowns — has also been singled out.

Lord Sumption said it was “unworthy” of serious scientists to indulge in the attacks.

“Their critics have forgotten the basic principle of their profession – that all scientific conclusions are provisional including their own, and that knowledge advances by open debate and by challenge and response.

“What is it about this pandemic that causes normally rational people to behave like the persecutors of Galileo?”

The concerns were echoed by Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs.

He said: “There is still much that isn’t understood about Covid. In this environment, those who try to close down debate and suppress opinions that differ from their own are doing a massive disservice to the public.”

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