JEREMY Clarkson has been dismissed as an arrogant, ignorant hypocrite after railing against lockdowns and attacking “those Communists at Sage”.

The Grant Tour presenter, formerly of Top Gear, demanded that coronavirus restrictions be permanently scrapped, arguing “if you die, you die”.

The broadcaster has been condemned by a leading public health expert, who rejected his claims as wrongheaded and blinkered.

In an interview with the Radio Times, Clarkson aired his thoughts about the coronavirus crisis.

He said: “When it started, I read up on pandemics and they tend to be four years long.

“I think the politicians should sometimes tell those communists at Sage to get back in their box. Let’s just all go through life with our fingers crossed and a smile on our face.

“I can see Boris doesn’t want to open it up and shut us back down again. But if it’s going to be four years … and who knows, it could be 40 years.”

The Grand Tour star added: "If it’s going to be forever, let’s open it up and if you die, you die.”

Sage, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, is a group of experts which has been briefing the UK Government throughout the pandemic.

Professor Stephen Reicher, of the University of St Andrews, is a member of Independent Sage – which works to provide “independent scientific advice” to the Government.

He told The National that Clarkson’s remarks, which he interpreted as an attack on all public health experts, reflect “arrogance” born from “ignorance”.

The National: Jeremy Clarkson has recently been filming in Scotland with Richard Hammond and James May Jeremy Clarkson has recently been filming in Scotland with Richard Hammond and James May

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He explained that rapid, decisive public health measures are the best way to prevent infections, protect the economy and limit restrictions on civil liberties.

“What leads to lockdown is doubting and dithering and letting the pandemic run out of control so that you then have to slam on the brakes,” Reicher said. “As Clarkson should appreciate, you don’t get round a track more quickly by flooring the accelerator and ignoring the bends in the road.”

The professor also pointed out that the broadcaster was speaking from a position of privilege.

He continued: “What is more, it is easy for Clarkson to airily dismiss the deaths. But those who are most at threat are the poor and deprived, those living in crowded houses, who have to use public transport and who work in public facing jobs such as hospitality and retail. It is not those in mansions with large gardens and stables of cars.

Reicher added: “And if Clarkson wants to portray those who are seeking to use the evidence to find the best way of protecting us all (and especially the most vulnerable) as Communists, then he finds himself in the position of being Communism’s strongest advocate.”

Clarkson was interviewed on the Radio Times with producer Andy Wilman and presenters James May and Richard Hammond to talk about their special lockdown edition of the Amazon Prime show The Grand Tour.

Filmed in Scotland, the episode has been promoted as a “Lochdown special”. The presenters travel from Berwick-upon-Tweed to North Uist, via Edinburgh, Glentruim and Perthshire in classic US cars from the 70s.