Andrew Bridgen Tory was swept away from his whip.
A conservative MP defended Andrew Bridgen, who was stripped of the party whip for likening the Covid vaccine to the Holocaust.
Bridgen was suspended by Tory bosses after commenting on a now-deleted Twitter post.
“As one consulting cardiologist told me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.”
His tweet sparked a fierce backlash online, including from some Tory lawmakers.
Conservatives’ chief whip Simon Hart said: “Andrew Bridgen crossed a line and caused a lot of resentment in the process.
“Misinformation about vaccines is damaging and is costing lives. Therefore, I immediately remove the whip from Andrew Bridgen pending an official investigation.”
Speaking to GB News today, Gravesham’s Conservative MP Adam Holloway said people have the right to broadcast controversial views.
He said: “What happened to freedom of expression? We can’t really say what we think.
“We’re talking about diversity, inclusion and all that stuff. So why can’t people have different opinions even if they’re crazy opinions and they’re completely wrong?
“Andrew Bridgen’s loss of his whip is another example of the Tory Party falling into this situation, in my view, an eerily totalitarian, vigilant view of the world.
“I disagree with Andrew on the vaccine, but if he wants to say this or something, I think people should be allowed to say it.
“It’s really worrying that we all have to self-censor now. If people are crazy, I want to know that they are crazy too.”
In a video statement posted online last night, Bridgen denied being racist and said her tweet was “in no way anti-Semitic”.
“I am disappointed that chief whip Simon Hart, with the support of the prime minister, chose to remove me from the Conservative MP.
“My January 11 tweet was by no means anti-Semitic. Indeed, he implied that the Holocaust was the most heinous crime against humanity in living memory.
“Of course, if anyone is really offended by my use of such images, I apologize for any offense caused.
“I wholeheartedly reject any claim that I am a racist and am currently speaking with a legal team that will take action against callers who allege I am a racist.”
He continued to criticize the government for “actively trying to dismiss lawmakers” who have questioned the safety of Covid vaccines, and said he received “huge support” for his claims.
Bridgen is currently serving a five-day suspension from the House of Commons for breaking lobbying rules.