Former Conservative Health Secretary Matt Hancock has expressed his belief that a libel lawsuit filed against him by former Tory colleague Andrew Bridgen over a tweet was unwarranted. Hancock, who held the health secretary role during the Covid-19 pandemic, is facing legal action from Bridgen for a social media post made in January 2023.
In a development from last year, a High Court judge allowed Bridgen’s claim to proceed to trial after rejecting Hancock’s attempt to dismiss the case. Hancock has contested this decision by appealing to the Court of Appeal, with a recent hearing taking place.
The legal dispute stems from a tweet by Bridgen on January 11, 2023, sharing a contentious claim by a scientist regarding the Covid vaccine. This resulted in Bridgen losing his position within the Conservative Party. On the same day, Hancock posted a video condemning the dissemination of dangerous conspiracy theories by a sitting MP, leading to Bridgen’s libel lawsuit against him.
During the Court of Appeal hearing, Aidan Eardley KC, representing Hancock, asserted that Hancock’s expressed opinion was genuine and should be protected as free speech within the realm of honest opinion. Eardley raised concerns that the lawsuit might be misused to undermine the Covid-19 vaccination efforts, emphasizing the need for a thorough evaluation of the case’s merit.
On the other side, Christopher Newman, representing Bridgen, argued that Hancock’s claims of antisemitism lacked merit, citing the context of the tweet and established definitions of antisemitism. Newman contended that Hancock’s assertions regarding the ambiguity of antisemitism definitions were incorrect. The Court of Appeal, comprised of Lady Justice King, Lord Justice Warby, and Lady Justice Whipple, will provide their written judgment at a later date.
The legal wrangling between Hancock and Bridgen continues to unfold, with both parties presenting contrasting arguments in the ongoing libel case.
