Coalville MP issues threat to sue Matt Hancock for six-figure sum over 'Anti-Semitic' remark made on social media

By Coalville Nub News Reporter

26th Jan 2023 | Local News

Andrew Bridgen is threatening legal action against Matt Hancock. Images: Dreamstime/You Tube
Andrew Bridgen is threatening legal action against Matt Hancock. Images: Dreamstime/You Tube

Coalville MP Andrew Bridgen is threatening to sue Matt Hancock - after the former health secretary accused him on Twitter of "antisemitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories".

Mr Bridgen was suspended as a Tory MP over a tweet likening the impact of Covid vaccines to the Holocaust.

The BBC reports that a letter sent on his behalf is claiming £100,000 in libel damages.

Mr Hancock - who had the Tory whip removed for his reality TV appearance - is standing by his comments.

A "letter before action" has been sent on Mr Bridgen's behalf by a group called The Bad Law Project, with the support of the Reclaim Party, led by actor and activist Laurence Fox.

According to the letter, Mr Bridgen believes the former health secretary's words were defamatory.

He is calling on Mr Hancock to retract and delete his statement, apologise in the Commons and on Twitter, and pay £100,000into a legal fund for people seeking vaccine damages.

A spokesperson for Matt Hancock said: "What Matt said was obviously not libellous and he stands by his comments.

North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen. Photo: BBC

"Rather than wasting his time and money on an absurd libel case he will undoubtedly lose, let's hope Bridgen does the right thing and apologises for the hurt he's caused and keeps his offensive view to himself in future."

The dispute centres on tweets posted by the two independent MPs on January 11.

Above another Twitter message questioning the safety of Covid vaccines, Mr Bridgen wrote: "As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust."

Mr Hancock tweeted that "disgusting and dangerous anti-Semitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories spouted by a sitting MP this morning are unacceptable and have absolutely no place in our society".

His tweet was posted with a clip of himself asking a similarly-worded question during Prime Minister's Questions earlier that day.

In the Commons, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned Mr Bridgen's comments as "utterly unacceptable".

On the same day, the North West Leicestershire MP lost the Tory whip pending a formal investigation.

Chief Whip Simon Hart said: "The vaccine is the best defence against Covid that we have.

"Misinformation about the vaccine causes harm and costs lives."

Mr Bridgen said he was 'saddened' about his suspension, but defended his original post.

Mr Bridgen has made his views on Covid vaccines clear on social meda. Photo: Dreamstime

He argued it was "in no way antisemitic" and added he would continue to ask "reasonable questions" about Covid vaccines.

Mr Hancock is also an independent MP. In November, he had the Conservative whip suspended for joining the cast of the ITV show, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! while Parliament was sitting.

The MP for West Suffolk, 44, announced last month that he would not stand again at the next general election.

At the height of the Covid pandemic, he was a prominent figure in news conferences and media interviews, frequently speaking for the government when he was health secretary.

He was forced to resign in June 2021, when images emerged of him kissing adviser Gina Coladangelo, in breach of social distancing guidelines.

Share:

Subscribe to our FREE WEEKLY Newsletter!

Keep your town in your pocket.

Related Articles

Amazon organised a sports day for local pupils in the Coalville area
Local News

Coalville Amazon raises a smile on Red Nose Day with local schools visits to raise awareness of Comic Relief

The committee presented the cheque earlier this month. Photo: Hugglescote Social Club
Local News

Four-figure sum is raised by Hugglescote Social Club for Air Ambulance Service

Nub News Logo

Sign-up to the Coalville Nub News weekly newsletter

Subscribe now for weekly updates of local news and sport from your town. Plus what's on near where you live - and local homes for sale. All delivered straight to your in-box, every Friday.

We won't pass your details on to anyone else. By clicking the sign-up button you agree to our Privacy Policy.