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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Andrew Bridgen: MP expelled by Tories after Covid vaccine comments | Andrew Bridgen: MP expelled by Tories after Covid vaccine comments |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Conservative Party said Andrew Bridgen was expelled "following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel" | The Conservative Party said Andrew Bridgen was expelled "following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel" |
| The Conservative Party has expelled MP Andrew Bridgen after he compared Covid-19 vaccines to the Holocaust and was found to have breached lobbying rules. | The Conservative Party has expelled MP Andrew Bridgen after he compared Covid-19 vaccines to the Holocaust and was found to have breached lobbying rules. |
| The member for North West Leicestershire had already lost the party whip, meaning he was sitting as an independent. | The member for North West Leicestershire had already lost the party whip, meaning he was sitting as an independent. |
| But the Tories have now stripped him of his party membership as well. | But the Tories have now stripped him of his party membership as well. |
| Mr Bridgen said his expulsion "confirms the culture of corruption, collusion and cover-ups". | Mr Bridgen said his expulsion "confirms the culture of corruption, collusion and cover-ups". |
| A Conservative Party spokesman said Mr Bridgen was expelled "following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel". | A Conservative Party spokesman said Mr Bridgen was expelled "following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel". |
| He has 28 days, from the date of his expulsion on 12 April, to appeal. | He has 28 days, from the date of his expulsion on 12 April, to appeal. |
| Andrew Bridgen's vaccine claims fact-checked | Andrew Bridgen's vaccine claims fact-checked |
| Mr Bridgen's vaccine comments were condemned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak | Mr Bridgen's vaccine comments were condemned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak |
| Mr Bridgen said he intended to stand again at the next election. | Mr Bridgen said he intended to stand again at the next election. |
| "My expulsion from the Conservative Party under false pretences only confirms the culture of corruption, collusion and cover-ups which plagues our political system," he said in a statement. | "My expulsion from the Conservative Party under false pretences only confirms the culture of corruption, collusion and cover-ups which plagues our political system," he said in a statement. |
| "I have been a vocal critic of the vaccine rollout and the party have been sure to make an example of me. | "I have been a vocal critic of the vaccine rollout and the party have been sure to make an example of me. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "I will continue to serve my constituents as I was elected to do and intend to stand again at the next election." | "I will continue to serve my constituents as I was elected to do and intend to stand again at the next election." |
| 'Careless and cavalier' | |
| Mr Bridgen has spent months voicing concerns about the safety of Covid vaccines. | |
| In December he called in Parliament for a "complete suspension" of the vaccines based on what he described as, "robust data of significant harms and little ongoing benefit". | |
| This went against the overwhelming weight of evidence, from a number of different independent teams of researchers, that found the benefits far outweighed any known harms. | |
| He lost the whip in January after posting a tweet describing the Covid vaccine roll-out as "the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust". | |
| Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the comments as "utterly unacceptable". | Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the comments as "utterly unacceptable". |
| Earlier that month, he was handed a five-day suspension for breaking the MPs' code of conduct banning lobbying. | Earlier that month, he was handed a five-day suspension for breaking the MPs' code of conduct banning lobbying. |
| The cross-party Commons Standards Committee found Mr Bridgen had breached rules by failing to declare his financial interests in Mere Plantations when writing to ministers about the company. | |
| The Cheshire-based firm had donated money to Mr Bridgen's local party and funded a trip to Ghana. | |
| Following an investigation, the committee concluded the MP had shown a "careless and cavalier" attitude to the rules. | |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Andrew Bridgen | Andrew Bridgen |