Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has been suspended for comparing the Covid vaccine to the Holocaust

[Celerity]

Conservative Andrew Bridgen has been stripped of the party whip and faces formal investigation over Twitter post.

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/23243660.tory-mp-andrew-bridgen-suspended-spreading-covid-misinformation/



A Tory MP has been suspended by the party for spreading misinformation about the Covid vaccine. Andrew Bridgen has had the Conservative Party whip removed after having “crossed a line” in his criticism of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The North West Leicestershire MP has been increasingly vocal in remarks questioning the coronavirus vaccine and quoted someone who told him it was “the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust”. In a Tweet on Wednesday, the MP shared an article on vaccines adding: “As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.”



Chief Whip Simon Hart said: “Andrew Bridgen has crossed a line, causing great offence in the process. “As a nation, we should be very proud of what has been achieved through the vaccine programme. The vaccine is the best defence against Covid that we have. “Misinformation about the vaccine causes harm and costs lives. I am therefore removing the whip from Andrew Bridgen with immediate effect, pending a formal investigation.”

Tory MP Michael Fabricant backed the decision to remove the whip from Mr Bridgen over his comments, saying he would have “blood on his hands” if his views had deterred people from getting a vaccine. “If this deters people from being vaccinated and causes deaths as a direct consequence, he’ll have blood on his hands. His tweets are wholly irresponsible.” Holocaust Education Trust chief executive Karen Pollock said Mr Bridgen’s comment was “highly irresponsible and wholly inappropriate”.

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