Coalville MP Andrew Bridgen has revealed that his libel case against former Health Secretary Matt Hancock will be heard in the Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow (Friday).

Mr Bridgen, now the Independent MP for North West Leicestershire, confirmed last year that he had started legal proceedings against Mr Hancock over comments on social media that accused him of "anti-semitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories".

That followed Mr Bridgen's controversial tweet that likened the Government's Covid vaccination roll-out to the Holocaust.

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

Mr Hancock has been standing by his comments, but Mr Bridgen believes the words were defamatory.

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

Mr Bridgen said on X - formerly Twitter - this afternoon (Thursday): "My case Bridgen MP vs Hancock MP will be heard before Mrs Justice Steyn in Court 14 at the Royal Courts of Justice on The Strand at 10.30am tomorrow, Friday 1st March."

Coalville MP Andrew Bridgen. Photo: BBC

He added: "Anybody wishing to watch my case Andrew Bridgen MP vs Matthew Hancock MP remotely MUST APPLY TO DO SO BY 9am TOMORROW."

The announcement came shortly after he called for a debate on the return of capital punishment in a speech in the House of Commons.

Mr Bridgen, who was thrown out of the Conservative Party for his views on the Covid vaccine, referred to 'crimes against humanity'.

He resigned from Laurence Fox's Reclaim Party last year but has continued to use his social media platforms to speak out the Government's vaccine policy.

The Independent reports that he told the House: "I've always opposed capital punishment on the principle that it's wrong to take a life, so it can't be right for the state to take a life in revenge.

"Events have caused me to reconsider my position.

"So can we have a debate on crimes against humanity and the appropriate punishment for those who perpetuate, collude and cover up for these atrocities, atrocities and crimes so severe that the ultimate punishment may be required?"

But Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt said that Mr Bridgen's online comments could be seen as a 'danger to our democracy'.

She said: "I think (Mr Bridgen's) incredibly subtle question is not lost on anyone in this House on where he might be taking it.

"It is appropriate that the finale of this session, which has featured so heavily on conspiracy theories, should fall to the honourable gentleman.

"I would just caution him also just to reflect with the things that have been said about his own behaviour, what he does on social media, the security measures that have had to be stepped up for honourable members in this place in the wake of some of his social media tweets and questions in this House.

"Whatever my disagreements are with (Mr Bridgen), I will always stand ready to get answers from departments and assist him in his work.

Photo: YouTube

"But I'm going to call out on every occasion when he is doing things that are, I think, a danger to our democracy and also the safety and security of members of this House."

It was the latest run-in between Mr Bridgen and Ms Mordaunt.

In March last year, Ms Mordaunt criticised Mr Bridgen for repeating "conspiracy theories" about Covid, adding that they include "falsehoods" originating in Russia and China.

The criticism came days after Mr Bridgen used a debate in the Commons to call for the Government to "immediately stop the MRNA vaccine booster programme and initiate a full public inquiry into not only the vaccine harms but how every agency and institution set up to protect the public interest has failed so abysmally in its duties".