UK Conservative MP expelled from party after comparing COVID vaccine to Holocaust

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - After comparing COVID-19 vaccines to the Holocaust, British MP Andrew Bridgen has been expelled from the ruling Conservatives, a party spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

Bridgen, known as a staunch Brexit supporter, was suspended from the parliamentary group in January and ejected from the Conservatives earlier this month.

"Mr Bridgen was expelled from the Conservative Party on 12 April following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel. He has 28 days from this date to appeal," a party spokesperson said in a statement.

In January, he posted a vaccine efficacy chart on Twitter and said: "As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust."

His remarks were strongly criticized by many, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Speaking in Commons during Prime Minister's Questions, Sunak condemned the remarks, calling them "utterly unacceptable."

The controversial tweet was later deleted.

Meanwhile, Bridgen was already serving a five-day suspension from Commons after being found to have breached lobbying rules.

Following his expulsion, Bridgen said he plans to stand again as an MP.

"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," he said on Twitter.

"No elected Member of Parliament should ever be penalised for speaking on behalf of those who have no voice. The Party has been sure to make an example of me," added Bridgen.

Bridgen, 58, has served as the MP for North West Leicestershire since 2010. In his parliamentary career, he has supported efforts to remove from office Conservative prime ministers David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss.