Andrew Bridgen instructed to ‘treatment deficiencies’ in libel declare towards Matt Hancock as elements of case struck out | Politics Information

Former well being secretary Matt Hancock has misplaced a bid to have a libel declare introduced towards him by a fellow MP utterly thrown out by a Excessive Courtroom choose.

Andrew Bridgen needs to “clear his identify” after Mr Hancock allegedly accused him of antisemitism in a “malicious” social media publish, the Excessive Courtroom was beforehand instructed.

Politics Stay: ‘We’re prepared – simply name it’: Keir Starmer throws down problem to Rishi Sunak

The January 2023 tweet adopted Mr Bridgen, a former Tory MP who now sits as an unbiased, posting a remark about COVID-19 vaccines.

A choose was instructed that, on 11 January, Mr Bridgen shared a hyperlink to an article “regarding information about deaths and different hostile reactions linked to COVID vaccines” and acknowledged: “As one advisor heart specialist mentioned to me, that is the largest crime towards humanity for the reason that Holocaust.”

Hours later, Mr Hancock wrote on Twitter – now referred to as X – that “disgusting and harmful antisemitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories spouted by a sitting MP this morning are unacceptable and have completely no place in our society”.

Mr Bridgen believes “each particular person studying the tweet knew it was about me”, that it was “critically defamatory and unfaithful” and meant to trigger “grievous hurt” to his fame, the court docket was instructed.

At a preliminary listening to in London earlier this month, Mr Hancock’s attorneys argued the declare towards him ought to be thrown out because it didn’t have “a practical prospect of success” and due to the “lack of a correctly articulated case”.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Mrs Justice Steyn “struck out” sure elements of Mr Bridgen’s case however didn’t dismiss the entire declare, as a substitute giving him the chance to make amendments and “treatment the deficiencies”.

Aidan Eardley KC, for Mr Hancock, beforehand mentioned the best way by which Mr Bridgen had set out his case was “hopeless” in relation to the argument {that a} reader of his tweet would have assumed it referred to the North West Leicestershire MP.

Extra from Sky
FA urged by authorities to think about banning transgender girls from enjoying girls’s soccer
‘Want I might acted earlier’: Matt Hancock’s defence on the COVID inquiry

Christopher Newman, representing Mr Bridgen, instructed the court docket that he had the Tory whip eliminated the day of his tweet and “no-one was confused” about who Mr Hancock was referring to in his personal publish – allegedly seen by 4.2 million folks.

Mr Hancock’s tweet allegedly meant “Mr Bridgen is antisemitic” or he superior “antisemitic theories”, which have been “clearly terribly damaging imputations”, the court docket was instructed.

Mr Newman mentioned “no sincere particular person might maintain the view that Mr Bridgen is antisemitic when there isn’t any proof in any respect that he’s”.

In her judgment, Mrs Justice Steyn mentioned Mr Bridgen’s authorized arguments over how the disputed tweet allegedly referred to him have been “faulty” however may very well be “cured”, and he ought to be “given a possibility to amend”.

Mr Hancock was well being secretary throughout the pandemic however resigned in June 2021 after breaking social-distancing tips by kissing a colleague – his now girlfriend Gina Coladangelo.

The MP for West Suffolk, who was married on the time, misplaced the Tory whip when he went on I am a Movie star… Get Me Out of Right here! and now sits as an unbiased.

A spokesman for Mr Hancock mentioned after the ruling: “Matt welcomes the truth that a core a part of Mr Bridgen’s absurd declare has been struck out as faulty.

“Mr Bridgen has been instructed if he needs to place ahead a non-defective case then he can accomplish that, and if he does we are going to clearly proceed to combat it, and are extremely assured of profitable. We will probably be searching for all related prices.”