Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who lost whip after comparing Covid vaccines to the Holocaust, defends his remarks | Politics news

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Andrew Pridgen insisted his comments comparing the COVID vaccine launch to the Holocaust were “in no way anti-Semitic” in his first statement since losing the Conservative whip.

In a video statement on his YouTube channel, the North West Leicestershire MP criticized the government for “seriously looking to remove MPs” who question the safety of coronavirus vaccines, and said he had received “huge support” for his claims.

He said: “My tweet on January 11 was in no way anti-Semitic.

Indeed, I hinted that the Holocaust is the most heinous crime against humanity in living memory.

Of course, if anyone is truly offended by my use of such images, I apologize for any offense caused.

“I strongly reject any suggestion that I am a racist and am currently speaking to a legal team who will initiate proceedings against those who led the call suggesting I was a racist.”

Mr Pridgen tweeted an article on Wednesday questioning the safety of the punches, adding: “As a consultant cardiologist told me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.”

These remarks were widely criticized by charities, scholars and MPs in the House of Commons, resulting in him losing his Conservative whip – meaning he was no longer a Tory MP but an independent.

Shortly after his statement was published, Mr. Bridgen’s local party distanced itself from the MP and his claims.

The North West Leicestershire Conservatives said: “The association disagrees with Andrew Pridgen’s recent comments on vaccines and vaccines.

“We support the suspension of the whip to allow for an investigation into those comments and we can make no further comments until that investigation is completed,” he added.

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1:01 Holocaust survivor: Andrew Pridgen ‘failed in his homework’

Last night, Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor and retired immunologist, accused the prominent MP of “mind-boggling ignorance” and said he had let the British public down.

“People in positions of public responsibility like Andrew Pridgen owe it to us, the public, to do our due diligence,” Stern told Sky News.

“Before they open their mouths about an issue like this, they should inform themselves, they should get expert advice.

“Andrew Pridgen has not done that, so he has failed in his duty to his constituents and to the British public.”

The Holocaust refers to the systematic murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the comments made by Mr Pridgen were “totally unacceptable” and Chief Whip Simon Hart took action because the remarks had “crossed the line”.

Scientific experts have defended vaccines in the wake of Mr. Pridgen’s comments.

Research published in June last year by Imperial College London found that around 20 million lives were saved by Covid strikes in its first year.

Pridgen later deleted the tweet, but in his statement on Thursday he vowed to “continue to ask” questions about the safety of vaccines.

He is already serving a five-day suspension from the House of Commons for violating lobbying rules and suggesting that a woman investigating him could swing with the peerage.

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