Andrew Bridgen is EXPELLED from Tory Party after comparing Covid jabs to the Holocaust
ANDREW Bridgen has been thrown out of the Tories for good after comparing Covid vaccines to the Holocaust, the Sun can reveal.
The MP for North West Leicestershire has already had the Conservative whip removed – but bosses have now also expelled him as an ordinary member.
It will likely spell curtains for his Commons career at the next election if he loses an appeal to stay in the party.
But there is growing speculation in Westminster he could join Laurence Fox’s Reclaim Party.
A Tory spokesman said: “Mr Bridgen was expelled from the Conservative Party on 12th April following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel. He has 28 days from this date to appeal.”
In a statement Mr Bridgen claimed it was an issue of “freedom of speech” – and declared his intention to stand at the next election.
The MP has been forced to sit as an independent after Chief Whip Simon Hart furiously booted him from the Tory parliamentary cohort in January.
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It came after Mr Bridgen tweeted an article about jabs and said: “As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.”
The inflammatory post was roundly condemned including from PM Rishi Sunak who branded the remarks “utterly unacceptable”.
Chief Whip Mr Hart piled in: “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.”
At the time Mr Bridgen insisted his remarks were “in no way anti-Semitic” but wanted to “apologise for any offence caused”.
In a statement today he said: “My expulsion from the Conservative Party under false pretences only confirms the toxic culture which plagues our political system.
“Above all else this is an issue of freedom of speech. No elected Member of Parliament should ever be penalised for speaking on behalf of their constituents and those who have no such voice or platform.
“As a vocal critic of the vaccine rollout amongst other issues such as net zero, illegal immigration, and political corruption the Party has been sure to make an example of me.
“I am grateful for my newfound freedom and will continue to fight for justice, speech, and liberty. I will continue to serve my constituents as I was elected to do and intend to stand again at the next election.”