POLITICIANS from Conwy were among those voting against weekly Covid-19 testing for frontline staff.

More than 300 MPs voted down Shadow Health Secretary John Ashworth’s ‘Testing of NHS and Social Care Staff’ amendment insuring an ‘Opposition Day’ on Wednesday, June 24.

Of the 335 MPs voting ‘No’ on the amendment - which called for regular tests for asymptomatic health care workers - were Clwyd West MP David Jones and Aberconwy MP Robin Millar.

While asymptomatic transmission was dubbed in late May by the New England Journal of Medicine the “Achilles Heel” of current strategies to contain Covid-19 worldwide, current Government Policy is for regular testing of asymptomatic staff following an outbreak or "where necessary".

Mr Jones said: "The motion in question was put down by the Labour Party in an Opposition Day debate.

"Everyone sensible supports the testing of NHS staff. Indeed, there is already a staff testing policy carried out according to the advice of the Chief Medical Officer. All Conservative MPs support it.

"In the first place, it is worth noting that Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Health Secretary, said when he opened the debate that Labour were calling for weekly testing of NHS staff, “if necessary”.

"But that is precisely the position that prevails today. If testing is necessary, it will be carried out.

"However, the words “if necessary” were not in the wording of the Labour motion, which instead called for weekly testing without any qualification; in other words, whether or not necessary."

In Wales, where testing is a devolved issue, weekly testing of asymptomatic staff is not currently being enacted.

Mr Jones added: "It is also worth noting that here in Wales, where the Labour Welsh Government run the NHS, weekly testing of workers is not carried out."

Mr Millar agreed: "By voting against the Labour motion, I agreed to continuing with the testing regime that is in place now.

"That's the testing regime supported by the Chief Medical Officer and the British Medical Association.

"These sorts of motions - on NHS testing, NHS salaries, child immigrants - are worded to make the Government appear heartless. It happens quite often and will no doubt happen again.

"I don't like it but I accept that it is an Opposition tactic to gain easy soundbites and attack lines.

"These motions even have a nickname - "motherhood and apple pie" motions, as in "Who wouldn't vote for motherhood and apple pie?"