The Court of Appeal will hear today, 20 May 2026, an appeal by the Defendant (former Health Secretary, Matt Hancock) against the refusal by Collins Rice J to summarily dismiss the libel claim brought by (former Conservative MP) Andrew Bridgen on the basis that a defence of honest opinion was bound to succeed. Mr Hancock posted a tweet in January 2023 that (the Court has found) expressed the opinion that Mr Bridgen had tweeted something earlier that day that was (among other things) anti-semitic in character. Mr Hancock sought summary judgment on the issue of whether an honest person could have held that opinion (Defamation Act 2013 s3(4)) and summary judgment on, or strike out of, Mr Bridgen’s case that he did not hold that opinion (Defamation Act 2013 s3(5)).
The Judge rejected both limbs of Mr Hancock’s application, holding that there were further matters that needed to be explored at trial. Mr Hancock now appeals against that determination. Mr Bridgen seeks to uphold it, including for additional reasons not relied on by the Judge.
Aidan Eardley KC acts for Mr Hancock, instructed by RPC.