Andrew Bridgen has insisted his comments comparing the COVID vaccine roll-out 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 criticised the government for “actively look(ing) to remove MPs” who question the safety of COVID vaccines and said he had received “huge support” for his claims.
He said: “My tweet of 11th of January was in no way anti-Semitic.
“Indeed, it alluded to the Holocaust being the most heinous crime against humanity in living memory.
“Of course, if anyone is genuinely offended by my use of such imagery, then I apologise for any offence caused.
“I wholeheartedly refute any suggestion that I am racist and currently I am speaking to a legal team who will commence action against those who have led the call suggesting that I am.”
Mr Bridgen tweeted an article on Wednesday questioning the safety of the jabs, adding: “As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.”
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The remarks have been widely criticised by Holocaust charities, scientists and MPs across the house, resulting in him losing the Conservative whip – meaning he is no longer a Tory MP but is an independent.
Shortly after posting his statement, Mr Bridgen’s local constituency party distanced themselves from the MP and his claims.
The North West Leicestershire Conservatives said: “The Association does not agree with Andrew Bridgen’s recent comments on vaccines and vaccinations.
“We support the suspension of the whip to allow for an investigation into those comments to be carried out and can make no further comments until this investigation is completed.”
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Last night, Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor and retired immunologist, accused the prominent backbencher of “mind-boggling ignorance” and said he had failed the British public.
“People in a position of public responsibility like Andrew Bridgen owe us, the public, a debt of due diligence,” Mr Stern told Sky News.
“Before they open their mouths about an issue like this, they should inform themselves, they should get expert advice.
“Andrew Bridgen 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 Jewish people by Nazi Germany and its allies during the Second World War.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the comments made by Mr Bridgen were “utterly unacceptable” and chief whip Simon Hart took action because the remarks “crossed a line”.
Scientific experts defended the vaccines in the wake of Mr Bridgen’s comments.
About 20 million lives were saved by the COVID jabs in its first year, Imperial College London research published in June last year found.
Mr Bridgen later deleted the tweet, but in his statement on Thursday vowed to “continue to ask” questions about the safety of the vaccines.
He is already serving a five-day suspension from the Commons for breaching lobbying rules and suggesting the woman investigating him could be swayed with a peerage.