Andrew Bridgen
MP
Official portrait, 2020
Member of Parliament
for North West Leicestershire
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded byDavid Taylor
Majority20,400 (37.9%)
Personal details
Born (1964-10-28) 28 October 1964[1]
Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England
Political partyIndependent (since 2023)
Other political
affiliations
Spouses
Jacqueline Cremin
​
​
(m. 2000; div. 2012)​
    ​
    (m. 2017)​
    Children3
    Alma materUniversity of Nottingham
    Occupation
    • Politician
    • businessman
    WebsiteWebsite

    Andrew James Bridgen[2] (born 28 October 1964) is a British politician and businessman who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Leicestershire since 2010. He was a member of the Conservative Party until his expulsion in April 2023, having had the whip suspended in January after criticising the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and claiming that an Israeli cardiologist told him it constitutes "the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust".[3] He joined the Reclaim Party in May 2023[4][5] but resigned from the party in December 2023.

    In his parliamentary career, he has supported efforts to remove Conservative prime ministers David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss from office.[6][7][8][9] He is a prominent supporter of Brexit. In January 2023, Bridgen was suspended from the House of Commons for five days[10][11] after the house voted in favour of the recommendations of the Commons Select Committee on Standards which found that he had repeatedly breached rules over paid lobbying and declaring interests and that he also attempted to pressure the commissioner investigating his lobbying breaches.[12]

    Early life and career


    Bridgen was born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, on 28 October 1964. He attended Netherseal Junior School, then the Pingle School. He graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in biological sciences.

    After graduating, Bridgen began training as an officer in the Royal Marines but did not complete the course. He then began work in his family's agricultural business. He served as the East Midlands chairman of the Institute of Directors and on the East Midlands Regional Assembly as a business representative.[13]

    In May 2009, he intervened in the "dirty tricks row" involving a councillor who had offered Conservative backing to ensure a village hall was built if an independent election candidate stood down.[14] Bridgen blamed "intransigence of certain unelected individuals at the very top of the county council" rather than the individual councillors involved.[14] Both Labour and Conservative council leaders criticised his intervention and the council solicitor wrote to ask for an explanation.[14] A police investigation followed, and Cllr Nicholas Rushton temporarily stood down. Rushton denied wrongdoing and went on to become leader of the county council.[15][16]

    Parliamentary career

    Andrew Bridgen was elected as the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire at the 2010 general election, becoming the first Conservative MP for the area in 13 years.[17] The seat had been vacant since the previous MP, David Taylor, died of a sudden heart attack on Boxing Day 2009. Bridgen was re-elected at the 2015 and 2017 general elections.

    In July 2010, Bridgen first became a member of the Regulatory Reform Select Committee, continuing to be a member throughout his parliamentary career.[18] He was a member of the Advisory Panel to Professor Ragnar Löfstedt's report on Health and Safety[19][20] and served on the Draft Deregulation Bill (Joint Committee) and Liaison Committee (Commons).[21]

    On 9 June 2011, allegations of sexual assault were made against Bridgen, leading to his arrest in London by the Metropolitan Police and subsequent release on bail.[18][22][23] A week later the allegations were retracted as untrue, and police said no further action would be taken against Bridgen, or the woman concerned, Annabelle Fuller, a former employee of UKIP.[24][25] In a statement, Bridgen expressed his frustration that "such a ludicrous, false and unsubstantiated allegation" had received so much attention.[26]

    In January 2013, Bridgen, interviewed on BBC Radio's PM programme, stated that good MPs were being put off by poor pay and were having to ask their families to make sacrifices.[27] Bridgen stated he was one of the few MPs willing to speak publicly on the issue of MPs' low pay. It was reported that Bridgen received additional income from his family vegetable firm, and he was criticised by local Labour politicians for being 'out of touch'.[27] In June 2015, following the announcement that MPs were to be awarded a 10% pay rise, Bridgen again spoke out, criticising wealthier cabinet ministers for publicly turning down the additional money, which he said he would take himself.[28]

    In August 2014, AB Produce, of which Bridgen was director, was warned by the Environment Agency that it could lose its licence if it did not remove a "urine-like" smell from two "lagoons" of putrid vegetable matter on the site. The smell had reportedly been a source of complaints from neighbours for several years, and following the enforcement action, the issue was resolved.[29]

    In 2015, Bridgen sold his constituency house in Appleby Magna for £2 million, under a government High Speed 2 (HS2) compensation scheme as the house is 100 feet (30 m) from the proposed route. The sale was also reported to be linked to his divorce proceedings.[30][31] He was criticised by local campaigners for selling at the early stage under an "exceptional hardship scheme", but Bridgen argued he had lost more money than anyone else.[32] In March 2017, Bridgen apologised for failing to declare during an HS2 debate that his home was being bought by the high-speed rail link. He made the apology in the House of Commons after being found to have breached the rules governing MPs' interests following an investigation by the Commons standards watchdog.[33] However, Bridgen argued that he had been a consistent critic of High Speed 2, casting doubt on the economic benefits associated with the proposals, and the costs of the programme regardless of his property interests.[34][35] Bridgen was criticised in May 2016 for claiming nearly £25,000 on expenses in a single year for staying in hotels in London. He stated that his use of hotels was cheaper than having a flat and was a short walk from Parliament when it finished late at night.[36] During this time, he did not allow his staff to claim for expenses for hotel stays, saying "they come down and work for me two days in London, stay at their own expense down here, and then go back and then work in the constituency the rest of the time".[37]

    In March 2018, Bridgen stated in Parliament that there were 'no rough sleepers' in North West Leicestershire. Mark Grant, the manager of Leicester-based charity Action Homeless, responded that despite what official figures show, North West Leicestershire was a part of the county where the charity had most people presenting from. He added: "We know rough sleepers from North West Leicestershire migrate to Leicester to get access to services there that aren't available where they are from." Bridgen disputed the response and pointed to government investment in the area.[38]

    Bridgen has been accused by Pink News of making homophobic statements.[39] He has also been accused of anti-semitic[40] statements at various points in his parliamentary career. He has denied each allegation. On 7 August 2018, Bridgen supported comments made by Boris Johnson, regarding the wearing of burkas by some Muslim women in Britain.[41]

    On 14 October 2018, on BBC 5 Live radio, Bridgen, during a discussion of Brexit, incorrectly said that he and any British citizen was entitled to an Irish passport as part of a special arrangement with the Republic of Ireland. According to Stephen Nolan, Bridgen then hung up the phone during the break for the news bulletin and then could not be contacted to clarify his confused remarks.[42]

    Bridgen endorsed Boris Johnson during the 2019 Conservative leadership election.[43]

    In November 2019, Bridgen apologised after defending Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg's comments suggesting that Grenfell Tower fire victims should have concluded that the 'stay put' advice given by the London Fire Brigade was incorrect. Bridgen suggested on BBC Radio 4 that Rees-Mogg would have made a better decision than the authority figures who gave the flawed advice. Bridgen later said: "I do not want to add in any way to the pain that this tragic event has caused. I apologise."[44]

    Bridgen was found by a High Court judge to have lied under oath in relation to claims that he made in court about his family business, AB Produce. It was found that he encouraged a police inspector to investigate his brother, a director of the company, on false allegations of fraud. He also made false allegations about the reasons why he had left the company.[45]

    Campaigns

    Following a very serious injury to a constituent in July 2011, Bridgen called for legislation to ensure Britons travelling abroad have adequate medical insurance.[46] Bridgen also sought to highlight the risks of head injuries associated with sporting injuries.[47] He is a supporter of reform of the pub industry, supporting moves to introduce a market rent option for tied tenant publicans.[48] Bridgen is a supporter of the Fair Deal For Your Local campaign.[49]

    Bridgen has supported calls for reform to the NHS. In June 2011, Bridgen attacked critics of Andrew Lansley's proposed NHS reforms, saying that they comprised "Stalinist protectionist elements".[50]

    In 2012, Bridgen campaigned for the electrification of the Midland Mainline.[51]

    Bridgen forced a Government U-turn in 2013 over plans for military intervention in Syria, when he organised a letter to the Prime Minister signed by 81 fellow Conservative MPs, demanding parliament be given a vote on whether the UK should send military assistance to anti-government Syrian rebels.[52] Bridgen later stated his support for air-strikes against ISIS terrorists in Iraq.[53]

    Bridgen successfully lobbied the government to cut Air Passenger Duty for children in 2014, a move backed by travel operators and supported by a 2013 study report.[54]

    In 2014, Bridgen voted to recognise the State of Palestine. Bridgen asked: "Does my honorable Friend agree that, given that the political system of the world's superpower and our great ally the United States is very susceptible to well-funded powerful lobbying groups and the power of the Jewish lobby in America, it falls to this country and to this House to be the good but critical friend that Israel needs, and this motion tonight just might lift that logjam on this very troubled area?" This question was quoted in full in The Times of Israel without comment.[55]

    In 2014, Bridgen led calls to have non-payment of the TV licence fee made a civil rather than a criminal matter.[56] The legislation in force "is effectively criminalising them for being poor", he told The Times and "most of those sent to prison as a result of non-payment are the elderly and women".[57] The government later adopted Bridgen's proposal, which was also supported by the Labour Party, though the BBC said the potential loss of £200 million could lead to closure of channels.[58][59]

    In 2017 Bridgen joined fellow local Conservative MP Heather Wheeler in campaigning for the return of passenger rail services on the Burton-to-Leicester railway line, the Ivanhoe Line.[60]

    European Union

    Bridgen is a long-term critic of the European Union. In February 2016, he criticised the BBC for selecting pro-EU guests for the BBC Newsnight and BBC Radio 4 Today programmes. He also stated that the BBC should not claim that Britain enjoyed a special status as David Cameron's EU renegotiations had not changed anything.[61] He supported Leave in the 2016 referendum,[62] going on to back group Leave Means Leave after the Brexit vote, and signing a letter to the Prime Minister in September 2017. Bridgen was one of the 28 so called Tory "Brexit Spartans" who voted against Theresa May's Brexit deal all three times it was put to the House of Commons.[63]

    Relationship with other politicians

    Bridgen was a critic of the former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.[6] After calling for him to be replaced in 2013, Bridgen withdrew a letter of no confidence in 2014 after he failed to attract the support of enough colleagues to trigger a vote of no confidence.[7] Three weeks before the EU referendum in 2016 he declared that Cameron's position was untenable and he would have to be replaced, possibly immediately after the vote.[64]

    In July 2018, Bridgen wrote a letter of no confidence in relation to Theresa May, who had replaced David Cameron as Prime Minister, in which he argued she should be replaced as leader of the Conservative Party as her "promises over leaving the EU are all a pretence and a charade intended to dupe the electorate which is an insult to their intelligence."[7]

    Bridgen raised concerns in 2010 to the Conservative whips' office about the behaviour of fellow Conservative MP Dan Poulter with female MPs.[65] The Sunday Times published these allegations, that Poulter had put his hand up the skirts of at least three female MPs, during the MeToo scandal in late 2017, and in November 2017 Bridgen reported Poulter to the Conservative Party's newly established disciplinary committee.[66] No female MP had made any complaint about Poulter, and he was subsequently cleared of inappropriate behaviour claims in March 2018.[67][68] Poulter took legal action for libel against The Sunday Times, whose defence was that it was simply reporting accusations made by others against Poulter. However, the High Court ruled that the stories implied guilt of sexual assault, causing The Sunday Times to admit that the claims were false and it should not have published them, and paying substantial libel damages to Poulter.[65]

    Bridgen has been an outspoken critic of the former Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow. In March 2018, he suggested Bercow should resign, and also reported him to the parliamentary commissioner for standards, to investigate whether he had broken the MPs' code of conduct. An inquiry into allegations that Bercow had bullied members of staff was subsequently blocked by MPs and he remained in post.[69] Bridgen repeatedly called for disciplinary action and the resignation of Labour MP Keith Vaz over a range of different issues.[70][71][72]

    In March 2019, Bridgen clashed with Conservative MP Ken Clarke in the House of Commons over the nature of representative democracy.[73]

    In January 2022, he submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson having previously backed him for leader in the 2019 leadership election, citing a "moral vacuum" at the heart of Government in relation to the lockdown parties, explaining his reasons for doing so in an article for The Telegraph.[8][74]

    Breach of standards

    In November 2022, the Commons Select Committee on Standards confirmed Kathryn Stone's findings that Bridgen broke the MPs' code of conduct by approaching ministers and officials for a company that had given him a donation, a visit to Ghana and offered him an advisory contract. The Standards Committee report stated that Bridgen emailed Stone asking about what he said were rumours that Boris Johnson would give Stone a peerage but this depended on her "arriving at the 'right' outcomes" during the Parliamentary Standard's investigations. Bridgen was asked to apologise to Stone for trying to put her under unacceptable pressure. Stone's investigation found Bridgen failed to declare the trip, the donation and a contract to advise the company. He also did not mention these when approaching ministers on behalf of the firm. The standards committee stated if Bridgen did not intend to take payments he should have cancelled or changed a contract stating the company would pay him £12,000 a year.[12] The Standards Committee recommended a five day suspension from the Commons and this was enacted in January 2023.[10][75]

    Bridgen's alleged offences included an "unacceptable attack upon the integrity" of Stone. Bridgen appealed against the finding.[76] The Standards Committee said Bridgen showed a "very cavalier" approach to the rules and found he broke lobbying rules "on multiple occasions and in multiple ways".[77] The Independent Expert Panel did not accept his appeal and stated "In our view the sanctions for breach of the rule against paid advocacy and for the email letter could properly and fairly have been more severe."[78]

    COVID-19 conspiracy theories

    In December 2022, the British Heart Foundation criticised Bridgen for promoting claims that there was a conspiracy by the foundation to cover up evidence of mRNA vaccines increasing inflammation of heart arteries. Bridgen had called for a halt to COVID-19 vaccinations. The charity "categorically" denied his allegations.[79]

    On 11 January 2023, Bridgen had the Conservative whip suspended after tweeting about COVID-19 vaccines: "As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust." Bridgen claimed the tweet had been moderated by staff members, which was denied by a Conservative Party spokesman.[80] Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the comparison "utterly unacceptable".[5] Two days later, Bridgen issued a statement saying his tweet was not antisemitic, and apologised "for any offence caused". He said he was taking legal advice about action against those who had labelled him as antisemitic. Bridgen further contended that he asked "reasonable questions" about the side-effects of mRNA vaccines, and had "received huge support from ordinary people, medical workers [and] those who have experienced vaccine harms themselves".[81]

    In March 2023, Bridgen posted tweets promoting a conspiracy theory claiming that COVID-19 originated at Fort Detrick.[82]

    Reclaim Party

    On 12 April 2023, Bridgen was expelled from the Conservative Party in further reaction to his January comments that compared COVID-19 vaccinations with the Holocaust.[4] In May 2023, he joined the Reclaim Party, becoming the party's first MP.[83] He resigned from the party in December 2023.[84]

    Personal life

    Bridgen married his first wife, Jackie, in 2000 and they had two sons.[85][86] Jackie was a Conservative councillor for the Oakthorpe and Donisthorpe ward of North West Leicestershire District Council from 2007 until losing her seat in 2011.[87][88] Andrew and Jackie were divorced in 2012. Bridgen married the Serbian opera singer Nevena Pavlovic in 2017.[89]

    Bridgen has been involved in a long legal battle against his own family's potato and vegetable business, AB Produce, stating the firm treated him unfairly and forced him out, while the business was suing him over claims he has failed to pay rent on a £1.5 million property owned by the firm. In April 2022, High Court Judge Brian Rawlings ruled against Bridgen, stating that he "lied under oath and behaved in an abusive, arrogant and aggressive manner", was "an unreliable and combative witness who tried to conceal his own misconduct", and "gave evasive and argumentative answers and tangential speeches that avoided answering the questions". After losing the case, Bridgen stated that "in actuality I won the case and my brother will be compelled by the Court in due course to repay considerable sums of money back to the businesses", adding "if courts always got everything correct the first time there would be no need for appeal mechanisms".[90] In August 2022, Bridgen was evicted from the property, and ordered to pay £800,000 in legal costs.[91]

    References

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    2. ↑ "No. 59418". The London Gazette. 13 May 2010. p. 8743.
    3. ↑ Walker, Peter (26 April 2023). "Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen expelled permanently from party". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
    4. 1 2 "Andrew Bridgen: MP expelled by Tories after Covid vaccine comments". BBC News. 26 April 2023.
    5. 1 2 Seddon, Paul; Schraer, Rachel (11 January 2023). "Andrew Bridgen suspended as Tory MP over Covid vaccine comments". BBC News. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
    6. 1 2 "Tory MP Summoned By Whips After Calling For Cameron To Go". HuffPost UK. 10 June 2013.
    7. 1 2 3 "In full: Andrew Bridgen's stinging no-confidence letter blasts Theresa May's Brexit plan". Leicester Mercury. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    8. 1 2 Hope, Christopher (13 January 2022). "Brexiteer becomes fifth Tory MP this week to submit Boris Johnson no confidence letter". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
    9. ↑ Penna, Dominic (16 October 2022). "Jamie Wallis becomes third Tory MP to urge Liz Truss to quit". The Telegraph.
    10. 1 2 "Tory MP Andrew Bridgen facing suspension from Commons". BBC News. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
    11. ↑ Martin, Daniel (11 January 2023). "Andrew Bridgen loses Tory whip after comparing Covid vaccine to the Holocaust". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
    12. 1 2 Walker, Peter (3 November 2022). "Tory MP Andrew Bridgen faces suspension over lobbying breaches". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
    13. ↑ Curtis, Polly (9 June 2011). "Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen arrested on suspicion of sexual assault". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
    14. 1 2 3 "Tory told to prove 'dirty tricks' allegations". Leicester Mercury. 30 May 2009. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
    15. ↑ "'Dirty tricks' deputy leader stands down". Leicester Mercury. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
    16. ↑ "Cllr Nicholas Rushton Profile". Leicestershire County Council. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    17. ↑ "Election 2010 | Constituency | Leicestershire North West". BBC News. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
    18. 1 2 "MP quizzed over sex assault claim". BBC News. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
    19. ↑ "Andrew Bridgen MP welcomes Löfstedt review recommendations". Andrew Bridgen MP. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015.
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    24. ↑ Gadher, Dipesh (13 April 2014). "Yard to quiz Farage aide over 'sex lies'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 April 2017. (subscription required)
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    26. ↑ "Sex assault case against MP dropped". BBC News. 16 June 2011.
    27. 1 2 Dan Martin (12 January 2012). "Do you think £65,738 is too little for MPs to earn?". ThisisLeicestershire. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
    28. ↑ "Tory MPs Mark Field and Andrew Bridgen to accept pay rise". BBC News. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    29. ↑ "AB Produce near Measham risks losing licence over 'urine' smell". BBC News. 14 August 2014.
    30. ↑ Ross, Tim (26 December 2015). "Andrew Bridgen facing 'smears' after telling police of MP's alleged crimes". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
    31. ↑ Dan Martin (31 January 2013). "HS2 Rail announcement ruined sale of house in north west Leicestershire". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
    32. ↑ DanjMartin (19 October 2016). "Andrew Bridgen: 'Keith Vaz reported me to standards watchdog but I'm not remotely worried'". Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
    33. ↑ "MP apologises 'profusely' for HS2 non-declaration". Loughborough Echo. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    34. ↑ "HS2 route 'toxic for Conservatives', warns NW Leics Tory MP Andrew Bridgen". Derby Telegraph. 27 April 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014.
    35. ↑ "Tory MP Andrew Bridgen: HS2 figures 'pie in the sky'". BBC News. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
    36. ↑ "After the duck house … where MPs' expenses went next". The Guardian. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    37. ↑ Williams, Martin. (2017). Parliament ltd. Hodder Paperback. ISBN 978-1473633872. OCLC 946693594.
    38. ↑ "Tory MP Andrew Bridgen sparks controversy with 'no rough sleepers' in North West Leicestershire claim". Leicester Mercury. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    39. ↑ "Tory MP and Daily Mail launch sickening attack on memorial for executed gay men". Pink News. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    40. ↑ "Tory silence over MP's 'Jewish lobby' slur". Jewish News. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    41. ↑ "Tory MP Andrew Bridgen Says Speaking To A Woman In A Burka Makes Him Feel 'Uncomfortable'". Huffington Post. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    42. ↑ Jonathon Read (15 October 2018). "Tory Brexiteer MP Andrew Bridgen shows his ignorance over Ireland AGAIN". The New European. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
    43. ↑ @ABridgen (4 June 2019). "There is one candidate to become Conservative Party leader who is a proven winner, a committed Brexiteer and who has the vision for a post Brexit Britain. That's why I will @Backboris to be the next leader of the Conservative Party" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    44. ↑ "Andrew Bridgen apologises 'unreservedly' over defence of Jacob Rees-Mogg Grenfell comments". standard.co.uk. 6 November 2019.
    45. ↑ Gabriel Pogrund; Matt Chorley (17 April 2022). "'Dishonest' MP Bridgen 'lied' about conduct in family dispute". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
    46. ↑ "Bali case leads to call for compulsory travel cover". BBC News. 23 September 2011.
    47. ↑ Owen, David W (19 January 2015). "Andrew Bridgen MP backs Jeff Astle family campaign by calling for Parliamentary debate on the risk of head injuries in sport". Archived from the original on 19 January 2015.
    48. ↑ "Andrew Bridgen MP pledges extra support to pubs and breweries". Burton Mail. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015.
    49. ↑ "Fair Deal for Your Local » Get a fair deal for your local » MP Supporters". Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
    50. ↑ "Tory blasts 'Stalinist elements' in fightback over NHS shake-up". London Evening Standard. 7 June 2011. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
    51. ↑ "A bridge too far for East Midlands rail electrification?". BBC News. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    52. ↑ "81 Tory MPs Write To David Cameron To Demand Vote On Arming Syrian Rebels". HuffPost UK. 6 June 2013.
    53. ↑ Bridgen, Andrew (7 September 2014). "Air strikes in Iraq: this time it's different says Andrew Bridgen". The Daily Telegraph. London.
    54. ↑ Hope, Christopher (9 November 2014). "Stop taxing children's plane seats and cut the cost of family holidays, MPs tell Chancellor". The Daily Telegraph. London.
    55. ↑ Berman, Lazar (14 October 2014). "Talk of 'Jewish lobby' surfaces during UK Palestine vote". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
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    57. ↑ Spence, Alex (8 March 2014). "Licence fee evasion may not be criminal". The Times. Retrieved 29 April 2017. (subscription required)
    58. ↑ "MPs back moves to decriminalise TV licence fee non-payment". BBC News. 25 March 2014.
    59. ↑ "Minister outlines plan to decriminalise non-payment of TV licence fee". The Guardian. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
    60. ↑ "Bid to re-open Leicestershire railway line as part of national government plan". Leicester Mercury. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    61. ↑ Christopher Hope (26 February 2016). "EU referendum:BBC is already failing its impartiality test claims Tory MP Andrew Bridgen". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
    62. ↑ Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
    63. ↑ Tominey, Camilla (19 October 2019). "New allegiance of Brexit Spartans could yet win the war for Boris Johnson". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
    64. ↑ Tim Ross (29 May 2016). "Senior Tory MP Andrew Bridgen says David Cameron is 'finished' as party leader". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
    65. 1 2 Waterson, Jim (25 February 2019). "MP Dan Poulter wins damages over Sunday Times assault claims". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
    66. ↑ Wheeler, Caroline (5 November 2017). "Daniel Poulter, Tory former minister, accused of putting hand up MPs' skirts". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 5 November 2017. (subscription required)
    67. ↑ "Suffolk MP cleared over inappropriate behaviour claims". ITV News. 25 March 2018.
    68. ↑ "Suffolk MP Daniel Poulter cleared in misconduct probe". BBC News. 25 March 2018.
    69. ↑ "John Bercow bullying inquiry blocked by MPs' committee". The Guardian. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    70. ↑ "Keith Vaz must be investigated over taking justice role, says MP". The Daily Telegraph. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    71. ↑ "Investigation into private life of Leicester MP Keith Vaz suspended 'for medical reasons'". Leicester Mercury. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    72. ↑ "Tory wants Keith Vaz wealth inquiry". The Times. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    73. ↑ Read, Jonathon (18 March 2019). "Ken Clarke has a brilliant response to Brexiteer Andrew Bridgen on the 'will of the people'". The New European. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019.
    74. ↑ "Lead or step aside, senior Tory Tobias Ellwood tells Boris Johnson". BBC News. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
    75. ↑ Ambrose, Tom (9 January 2023). "Andrew Bridgen suspended from House of Commons over lobbying". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
    76. ↑ "Tory MP Andrew Bridgen appeals against lobbying breach suspension". ITV News. 26 November 2022.
    77. ↑ "Tory MP Andrew Bridgen to fight possible suspension from Commons". BBC News. 27 November 2022.
    78. ↑ "Tory MP Andrew Bridgen fails in appeal against recommended lobbying suspension". The Independent. 20 December 2022.
    79. ↑ Morrison, Hamish (28 December 2022). "Tory MP's British Heart Foundation Covid conspiracy claims dismissed". The National. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
    80. ↑ Garrett, Lee (10 May 2023). "Tories hit back over MP Andrew Bridgen 'approved' tweet claim". Leicestershire Live – via MSN.
    81. ↑ Moorhouse, Sam; Moody, Jenny (13 January 2023). "Andrew Bridgen sorry over Tweet saying covid vaccine rollout was like Holocaust". StaffordshireLive. Reach. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
    82. ↑ Doak, Sam (14 March 2023). "False: COVID-19 originated at Fort Detrick, a United States army base". Logically. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
    83. ↑ Whannel, Kate (10 May 2023). "Ex-Tory Andrew Bridgen joins Laurence Fox's Reclaim party". BBC News.
    84. ↑ @abridgen (20 December 2023). "A statement by Andrew Bridgen MP: "This morning, I have made the incredibly difficult decision to resign from the Reclaim Party. I would first of all like to thank Laurence and all of the team at Reclaim who have been excellent and supported me wholeheartedly for the last 9 months. I have come to this decision purely because of a difference in the direction of the Party, I will still wholeheartedly support the policies and values of the Reclaim Party and wish them all of the best in their future endeavours However, I need to make a very important decision with a general election pending in the first half of next year. I need to put North West Leicestershire first, above any Party allegiance. I will continue standing up and fighting for the people of North West Leicestershire and delivering what is best for them. I have consistently campaigned against HS2 since my first election in 2010, I have been at the forefront of exposing scandals such as the modern day slavery cover up in Leicester and the Post Office Horizon scandal which was debated in the House of Commons yesterday. I have been standing up for those who have been injured by vaccines and exposing the worrying cover up of Trends in Excess Deaths on a national and indeed global scale" ENDS" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    85. ↑ Gray, Sadie (11 June 2011). "Sex assault claims are false, says 'mischievously targeted' Tory MP". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 April 2017. (subscription required)
    86. ↑ "Biography on Andrew Bridgen's official website". Andrewbridgen.com. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
    87. ↑ "Mine threat to children". Burton Mail. 29 April 2010. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
    88. ↑ "Rivals make inroads but again the Conservatives are smiling". Burton Mail. 7 May 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
    89. ↑ Cowburn, Ashley (7 May 2019). "'Wives of Westminster' website launched by Tory MP's spouse accused of 'sexism'". The Independent. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
    90. ↑ "'Arrogant' Tory MP 'lied' about conduct in family feud, judge rules". The National. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
    91. ↑ Gabriel Pogrund; Matt Chorley (3 September 2022). "MP Andrew Bridgen ordered to quit home in fight over family potato firm". The Times. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
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