Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin slams UK government over its handling of the coronavirus crisis

But the paper was not without its critics including Sweden’s Professor Giesecke who questioned its rigour and described it at the time as ‘not very good’ and ‘too pessimistic.’

Martin says the paper has left the UK in a much worse off position and argues that there is much evidence of scientific study that has been wrong in the past, particularly around people’s diet.

He said: “Following the science has been particularly hazardous in the pseudo-medical area of dietary advice, for the last half century at least. The main advice since the 1970s has been to avoid or minimise consumption of butter, cheese, eggs and full fat milk - unfortunately, it would seem, that advice has turned out to be utter cobblers too.”

Martin wants to see the government change tack and follow the Swedish model.

He added: “The Swedes are building a winning position in this fractious debate - not through debating prowess or slogans, but because they’re right. Most believe that the government zigged in the wrong direction during lockdown - so now it’s time to zag.”

But many academics have contested the Swedish model, with evidence showing that the country has one of the highest death rates in Europe.

Recent stats show Sweden has about 8200 confirmed cases per million people, compared with 1780 in Norway and 2560 in Denmark. For the UK it is 4600 and the US 15,400.

Sweden also has 57 deaths per 100,000, compared with five in Norway and 11 in Denmark. For the UK it is 70 and the US 50.