Laurence Fox’s Reclaim Party Loses Only Sitting MP As Andrew Bridgen Quits
Laurence Fox arriving at the Royal Courts Of Justice, central London, for his libel trial. Mr Fox is being sued by former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and drag artist Crystal, also known as Colin Seymour. Mr Fox is countersuing the pair along with actress Nicola Thorp. Picture date: Wednesday November 22, 2023. (Press Association via AP Images)
Ex-GB News host Laurence Fox’s Reclaim Party lost its sole parliamentary representative after Andrew Bridgen, the North West Leicestershire MP, announced his resignation Wednesday night.
Bridgen, who was expelled from the Conservative Party in April, cited “a difference in direction” as the primary reason for his departure from Reclaim. Bridgen joined the party seven months ago.
The MP was in the spotlight recently for his views on Covid vaccinations, labelling them as “the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.”
He said: “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.”
Reclaim, under the leadership of former actor-turned-activist Fox, was established as a political force against what it perceives as “woke orthodoxy.” The party, proclaiming to defend freedom of speech, which it believes is in severe jeopardy, has seen Fox denounce both the “climate hoax” and the “Covid scam.”
Despite his departure, Bridgen expressed gratitude towards Fox and the Reclaim staff for their unwavering support over the past nine months. He emphasised his continued endorsement of Reclaim’s policies and values but highlighted the urgency of prioritising his constituency with the looming general election.
Reclaim Party, echoing Bridgen’s sentiments, acknowledged their shared policy ground but also agreed that working independently would be more beneficial for both parties. Fox commended Bridgen’s courage and revealed he’d made a significant donation to the MP’s ongoing campaign fund.
Fox was sacked by GB News in September over a misogynistic rant about Ava Evans, a reporter for PoliticsJOE. His comments, made to GB News presenter Dan Wootton, resulted in their suspensions. Wootton remains under investigation by the network.
