Former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock is awaiting a judgement on whether a libel claim against him by Independent MP Andrew Bridgen will proceed. Bridgen has taken legal action against Hancock over a tweet he posted in response to a comment Bridgen made regarding Covid-19 vaccines in January 2023. Hancock’s tweet called Bridgen’s statements “disgusting and dangerous antisemitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories spouted by a sitting MP this morning”, which Bridgen claims was directed at him. Bridgen argues that the tweet was untrue and intended to cause “grievous harm” to his reputation.
According to Hancock’s lawyers, the claim does not have “a realistic prospect of success”. They maintain that a reader of Hancock’s tweet would not have assumed it referred directly to Bridgen. The judge overseeing the case, Mrs Justice Steyn, is expected to deliver her ruling at a future date.
Bridgen was expelled from the Conservative Party in April 2022 over the social media post that led to Hancock’s tweet. He later joined the Reclaim Party but resigned due to a “difference in direction”. Hancock, who served as the Conservative government’s health secretary during the Covid-19 pandemic, lost the Tory whip over his appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage many parts of the world. In the UK, the government is preparing to introduce a vaccine booster programme in an effort to control the spread of the virus. The programme is set to begin in September 2022, with priority given to the elderly and vulnerable.
The pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of accurate and trustworthy information. As misinformation and conspiracy theories continue to proliferate, it is crucial for individuals and governments to uphold transparency and accountability in the face of crisis
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More