Matt Hancock MP awaits ruling on antisemitism libel claim by Andrew Bridgen MP

Matt Hancock, the former UK Health Secretary, is awaiting a judicial verdict regarding allegations that he defamed fellow MP Andrew Bridgen by branding him as antisemitic.

Bridgen, now an independent MP, has filed a defamation lawsuit over a tweet in which Hancock criticized him for allegedly equating Covid-19 vaccine issues with the Holocaust.

Hancock’s defense claims the lawsuit lacks merit, with a decision pending from Mrs Justice Steyn of the High Court in London. Hancock served as Health Secretary until his resignation in June 2021 and lost his Conservative Party alignment after participating in a reality TV show in 2022.

Bridgen, who parted ways with the Conservatives and briefly aligned with the Reclaim Party, asserts that Hancock's tweet was a direct attack on his reputation.