Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has lost the whip after he "crossed the line" in his criticism of the Covid-19 vaccine.
In an incendiary post, the MP for north-west Leicestershire tweeted: "One consultant cardiologist said to me this is the biggest crime against humanity since the holocaust".
In recent months the MP has been increasingly vocal in his remarks questioning the vaccine - but his comment today was met with cross-party outrage.
Speaking in the Commons at Prime Minister's Questions, Rishi Sunak condemned the remarks, saying it was "utterly unacceptable to make linkages and language like that".
His response came to the ex-Health Secretary Matt Hancock who asked: "Does the Prime Minister agree with me that the disgusting, antisemitic, anti-vax conspiracy theories that have been promulgated online this morning are not only deeply offensive but anti-scientific, and have no place in this House or in our wider society?"
The Tory MP Michael Fabricant said Mr Bridgen would have "blood on his hands" if he discouraged the public from getting the jab.
He said: "If this deters people from being vaccinated and causes deaths as a direct consequence, he’ll have blood on his hands. His tweets are wholly irresponsible."
Karen Pollock, the Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, also said Mr Bridgen's post was "highly irresponsible and wholly inappropriate."
Just hours after the tweet the Tory Chief Whip Simon Hart said: "Andrew Bridgen has crossed a line, causing great offence in the process.
"As a nation we should be very proud of what has been achieved through the vaccine programme."
He added: "The vaccine is the best defence against Covid that we have. Misinformation about the vaccine causes harm and costs lives.
"I am therefore removing the Whip from Andrew Bridgen with immediate effect, pending a formal investigation."
The MP was also suspended from the Commons earlier this week for five sitting days after breaching lobbying rules in a "significant litany of errors".
The Commons Standards Committee found he breached the MPs' code of conduct "on registration, declaration and paid lobbying on multiple occasions and in multiple ways".
MPs blasted his "careless and cavalier attitude" to the rules - and said once he was under investigation, he tried to "pressure" Parliament's Standards Commissioner with a “completely unacceptable attack" on her integrity.
Mr Bridgen appealed the finding but his appeal was dismissed last month.
He said in a statement in November: "Whilst I am extremely disappointed with the recommendations of the committee, I accept them and will comply with them as required to do so."
