Hancock and Bridgen row continues in libel appeal
The Court of Appeal is set to hear the latest chapter in a libel claim brought by expelled Tory MP Andrew Bridgen against former ex-health minister Matt Hancock MP.
The legal battle between the ex-politicians erupted in January 2023, when Hancock posted on social media about Bridgen after the Tories suspended him over a “disgraceful” tweet.
Bridgen, a former Tory MP, was ousted from the party on 11 January 2023 over a post which appeared to say the delay in releasing safety data on Covid-19 vaccines was the worst crime since the holocaust.
The tweet was immediately condemned across the political spectrum and has since been deleted by the ex-MP for North West Leicestershire.
The same day, Hancock, took to X himself to share a tweet about Bridgen on his question at Prime Minister’s questions (PMQ) following the news of Bridgen that morning.
Hancock said in his tweet “the disgusting and dangerous antisemitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories spouted by a sitting MP this morning are unacceptable and have absolutely no place in our society.”
Bridgen took to X again two days following calling Hancock to “apologise publicly for calling me an antisemite and racist or he will be contacted by my legal team”.
The ex-Tory MP took to X again over a week later to confirm “a legal letter before action” was sent to Hancock from The Bad Law Project over his alleged defamation.
Battle of the ex-MPs
A judge in April 2025 dismissed a request from Hancock to strike out Bridgen’s libel claim and ordered him to pay him £18,000 following the pair going to court after Hancock’s legal representatives sought an order to throw the claim out.
Mrs Justice Collins Rice said: “Whether or not Mr Hancock genuinely espoused the opinion he expressed in the tweet complained of is, in the end, a matter of fact.”
Hancock was granted permission to appeal the decision, and the court is expected to hear arguments from his legal team at the law firm RPC on Wednesday.
