Andrew Bridgen expelled from Conservative party over Covid jab remarks

Backbench MP Andrew Bridgen has been expelled from the Conservative party over controversial remarks about Covid-19 vaccines.

Bridgen, who has represented the constituency of North West Leicestershire since 2010, has sat as an independent since losing the Tory whip in January after he claimed that vaccines were “the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust”.

His comments on Twitter were roundly criticised by Conservative colleagues at the time: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described them as “utterly unacceptable”, while chief whip Simon Hart said Bridgen had “crossed a line” and caused “great offence”.

Party officials confirmed on Wednesday that Bridgen had been expelled after an investigation. “Bridgen was expelled from the Conservative party on April 12 following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel,” said the Conservative party. “He has 28 days from this date to appeal.”

Following the announcement, Bridgen said on Twitter that his tweet was an “issue of freedom of speech”, adding: “My expulsion from the Conservative party under false pretences only confirms the toxic culture which plagues our political system.”

The MP said later in a statement that he would continue to serve his constituents and stand at the next general election.

“I have been a vocal critic of the vaccine rollout and the party have been sure to make an example of me,” he said. “I am grateful for my newfound freedom and will continue to fight for justice for all those harmed, injured and bereaved due to governmental incompetence.”

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, a Jewish communal organisation, said it was “pleased” by the Tory party’s decision, adding: “Suggesting that Covid vaccines are the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust is not an opinion which should be countenanced in any serious political party.”

Bridgen’s expulsion follows months of criticism over his conduct and use of social media. Before he compared Covid jabs to the Holocaust, Bridgen regularly questioned the safety of vaccines and the role of the World Health Organization and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the UK medicines regulator, during the pandemic.

In January, he was handed a five-day suspension from the House of Commons after parliament’s standards committee found he had breached rules around paid lobbying “on multiple occasions and in multiple ways”.

In a report, the PSC said Bridgen had failed to declare relevant interests in Mere Plantations, a UK-based company specialising in forestry in Ghana, in meetings with and emails to government officials and ministers.