After Matt Hancock accused Andrew Bridgen of spouting “anti-semitic, anti-vax conspiracy theories,” the now-former Tory MP is suing the former UK Health Secretary.
The former Tory MP wants Mr Hancock to pay damages to a legal fund for people seeking “collective redress for vaccine harms”.
The controversy centred around a tweet Mr Bridgen posted on Twitter that read, “As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust”.
This comment sparked an instant reaction from the then disgraced UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock who accused the former Tory MP of being anti-semitic: “The 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”.
After Hancock suggested the former Tory MPs comment was racist and anti-Semitic, Mr Bridgen responded, saying that he “will commence (legal) action against those who have led the call suggesting that I am”.
In a continued tweet on the 13th January, Mr Bridgen stated that due to Mr Hancocks public comments still being visible, he had three days to remove the comment and apologise otherwise his legal team would be contacted to take action.
Mr Bridgen wrote: “I will allow Matt three days to apologise publicly for calling me an anti-Semite and racist or he will be contacted by my legal team”.
According to the Telegraph, a legal challenge has been outlined by Mr Bridgens legal team. The letter read in part, “By inclusion of the phrases ‘anti-semitic’, ‘anti-vax’, ‘anti-scientific’ and ‘conspiracy theories’ the words are defamatory at common law.”
The letter in the Telegraph continued that Mr Hancock should “apologise for the tweet complained of – both orally in the House of Commons – and in writing on Mr Hancock’s personal Twitter account”.
It went on to say that Mr Hancock should “acknowledge full and final settlement of any prospective claim in the form of a payment of £100,000 – to be transferred into a legal fund on behalf of persons seeking collective redress for vaccine harms (under the UK Government’s Vaccine Damages Payment Scheme)”.
The legal action is being funded by Reclaim Party and the Bad Law Project.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Reclaim leader Laurence Fox said: “The Reclaim Party and the Bad Law Project is providing its full support to Mr Bridgen and we want a full apology from Mr Hancock.
“It’s an issue of free speech, transparency and compassion for those suffering vaccine harms.
“I have been approached by a number of people quite keen to put a few quid into this when we pursue the case.”
Responding, Mr Hancock spokesperson said: “What Matt said was obviously not libellous and he stands by his comments. 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.”
I believe Andrew Bridgen to be correct in his statement, and he only used the Holocaust as a comparison dose not make him anti-Semitic, the Holocaust is permanent in our history, and needs to be used as a permanent reminder of the atrocity, in my opinion, Andrew needs to jump ship, he is one of the few genuine MP’s who wants to fulfil the will of people, and the people are on side with him.