Andrew Bridgen expelled from Tory party for tweet comparing Covid vaccines to Holocaust

Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen has been expelled from the party following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel.

The MP for North West Leicestershire was suspended in January for a tweet which said: “As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust". A panel found that the tweet breached lobbying rules.

Following the outcome of a disciplinary panel, the Conservatives have announced the MP has been permanently expelled from the party. A party spokesman said: “Mr Bridgen was expelled from the party on 12 April following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel. He has 28 days from this date to appeal.”

The tweet received cross-party outrage in January, with PM Rishi Sunak saying in PMQs it was "utterly unacceptable to make linkages and language like that”. The MP will retain his seat in parliament.