High Court Rejects Andrew Bridgen Libel Claim Against Matt Hancock Over Conspiracy Theory Allegations

Mr Justice Jay ruled that Matt Hancock's tweet, which claimed Andrew Bridgen MP propagated "antisemitic, anti-vax, conspiracy theories" in January 2023, was a statement of opinion rather than fact. The judge concluded that any reader would have understood Mr Hancock's remarks to be an opinion, considering the context of a robust public debate.

The dispute originated from a tweet by Mr Bridgen on 11th January 2023, suggesting a link between COVID-19 vaccines and an excessive number of deaths, which he likened to the Holocaust. Mr Hancock responded by tweeting that Mr Bridgen's comments were "disgraceful" and constituted "antisemitic, anti-vax, conspiracy theories".

Mr Bridgen subsequently filed a libel claim, asserting that Mr Hancock's tweet caused him "serious harm" to his reputation. However, the High Court determined that the tweet's phrasing, particularly the use of "antisemitic, anti-vax, conspiracy theories", signalled to the public that it was a subjective opinion rather than an assertion of objective truth.

Following the High Court's decision, Mr Hancock stated he was "right to call out" what he perceived as dangerous conspiracy theories, emphasising his commitment to challenging misinformation. Mr Bridgen has indicated he plans to appeal the ruling, maintaining that his statements were not antisemitic.