Former health secretary Matt Hancock has lost a bid to have a defamation claim brought against him by an MP dismissed.
Andrew Bridgen wants to ‘clear his name’ Mr Hancock The High Court previously heard that he was allegedly accused of anti-Semitism in social media posts.
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The tweet from January 2023 came after Mr Bridgen, a former Conservative MP and now independent, made comments about COVID-19 vaccines.
A judge heard that on January 11, Mr Bridgen shared a link to an article “concerning data on deaths and other adverse effects related to the coronavirus vaccine” and said: “As one cardiologist told me That said, this is for humanity since the Holocaust.”
Hours later, Mr Hancock wrote on Twitter, now known as accepted, has absolutely no place in our society”.
The court was told that Mr Brigham’s belief that “everyone who read the tweet knew it was about me” was “grossly defamatory and untrue” and was intended to cause “serious harm” to his reputation.
At a preliminary hearing in London earlier this month, Hancock’s lawyers argued that the claim against him should be dismissed because it had no “realistic prospect of success” and “lacking a properly formulated case” .
Andrew Bridgen hopes to clear his name after Hancock allegedly accused him of anti-Semitism in a “vicious” social media post Picture: Rex Features
In Wednesday’s ruling, Ms Justice Steyn “struck out” parts of Mr Brigham’s case but stopped short of dismissing the entire claim, giving him the chance to make amendments and “rectify the deficiencies”.
Aidan Eardley KC, representing Mr Hancock, previously said the way Mr Brigham presented his case was “hopeless” because readers of his tweet would assume it was referring to Leigh Member for North West Sturtshire.
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Christopher Newman, representing Mr Brigham, told the court that he had removed the Tory whip on the day he tweeted and that “no one has raised any concerns about the people Mr Hancock referred to in his posts” Confused” – his post was said to have been viewed by 4.2 million people.
The court heard Mr Hancock’s tweets purportedly meant “Mr Brigham was an anti-Semitic” or that he had advanced “anti-Semitic theories”, which were “obviously damaging accusations”.
Matt Hancock lost the Tory whip after appearing on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity. Image: PA
Mr Newman said “no honest person would think Mr Brigham was an anti-Semitic because there is no evidence whatsoever” that he was one.
In his judgment, Mr Justice Stein said Mr Brigham’s legal argument about how the controversial tweets referred to him was “flawed” but could be “cured” and he should be “given an opportunity to amend”.
Mr Hancock served as health secretary during the pandemic but resigned in June 2021 after breaching social distancing guidelines by kissing a colleague (his current girlfriend Gina Coladangelo).
then married MP for west suffolk lost tory whip As he continued, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Now independents.
Mr Hancock’s spokesman said after the ruling: “Matt welcomes the fact that core parts of Mr Brigham’s absurd claims have been ruled out as flawed.
“Mr Brigham has been advised that if he wishes to present a flawless case then he can do so and if he does we will obviously continue to fight and remain confident of winning. We will seek all relevant costs.”
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