Tory MP loses whip over vaccine ‘Holocaust’ claim
A VETERAN Tory MP has had the whip removed for comparing the Covid vaccine rollout out to the Holocaust.
Andrew Bridgen had shared a link to an article regarding vaccines on Twitter and told followers: ‘As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.’
The Tory Whip’s Office said his comments had ‘crossed a line’ and that the whip would be suspended pending a formal investigation.
Rishi Sunak used Prime Minister’s Questions to ‘completely condemn’ the remarks in the ‘strongest possible terms’.
He said: ‘It is utterly unacceptable to make linkages and use language like that. I am determined that the scourge of anti-Semitism is eradicated. It has absolutely no place in our society.’
Fellow Tories warned Mr Bridgen could have ‘blood on his hands’ if his comments led Britons to turn down life-saving vaccines.
Chief Whip Simon Hart said in a statement: ‘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.’
The decision came on the same day Mr Bridgen began his suspension from the House of Commons after the parliamentary watchdog concluded he had a ‘careless and cavalier’ attitude to the code of conduct on lobbying.
The MP for North West Leicestershire has repeatedly posted messages raising concerns about Covid vaccines.
In the hours before posting the message on Twitter, which was seen by 1.9million people, he had published a series of comments casting doubt on the vaccines.
In one post yesterday he said: ‘We know the “vaccines” are causing serious harms,’ while another read that ‘the evidence keeps stacking up regarding Covid 19 vaccine harms’.
He also re-posted claims that the BBC are guilty of ‘criminal propa ganda’ for ‘censoring things that are true on the Covid 19 vaccines’.
Last week a prestigious medical journal, the BMJ’s Journal of Medical Ethics (JME), slammed him for peddling ‘ misleading’ claims about Covid vaccines being ‘harmful’ to kids.
Mr Bridgen has also reportedly held a meeting with Piers Corbyn, the brother of the former Labour leader, and a prominent far-left, anti-vaccine campaigner.
A series of senior Conservatives backed the decision to suspend the whip, and condemned Mr Bridgen’s comments.
Former health secretary Matt Hancock described them as ‘disgusting anti- Semitic, anti-vax, conspiracy theories’, calling them ‘deeply offensive and anti-scientific’.
Former vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said: ‘I am appalled by the recent highly offensive comments on vaccinations.
‘Our vaccination programme saved millions of lives worldwide and continues to protect the most vulnerable.
‘Any comparison made to the holocaust is completely inappropriate, belittling one of the greatest horrors ever committed by humanity.’
The Government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, said Mr Bridgen should be barred from standing for the Tories at the next election.
Lord Mann said: ‘ There is no possibility that Bridgen can be allowed to stand at the next election. He cannot claim that he didn’t realise the level of offence that his remarks cause.’
Tory peer Lord Pickles, the UK special envoy for post-Holocaust issues, said: ‘ People in authority have a duty to use language responsibly, Mr Bridgen has failed that test, and I welcome the removal of the Conservative whip from him.’
Olivia Marks-Woldman, chief executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said: ‘The murder of six million people is not a subject for flippant analogies or political exploitation.’
‘It is utterly unacceptable’