Lee Anderson responds after suspension from Conservative Party over ‘Islamophobic’ feedback
Lee Anderson has mentioned he accepts the Tory get together had “no option” however to droop him over “Islamophobic” feedback he made concerning the mayor of London.
In a publish on X after he was suspended on Saturday afternoon, the previous Tory deputy chairman mentioned: “Following a name with the chief whip, I perceive the tough place that I’ve put each he and the prime minister in with regard to my feedback.
“I fully accept that they had no option but to suspend the whip in these circumstances.
“However, I’ll proceed to assist the federal government’s efforts to name out extremism in all its varieties – be that antisemitism or Islamophobia.”
Pressure had been mounting on Rishi Sunak to behave after the MP for Ashfield mentioned he believed “Islamists” had “obtained management” of Sadiq Khan, the London mayor.
Announcing his suspension, a spokesman for Simon Hart, the chief whip, mentioned: “Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the chief whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.”
Mr Anderson prompted an outcry earlier this week when he mentioned on GB News: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is they’ve got control of Khan and they’ve got control of London… He’s actually given our capital city away to his mates.”
Khan: ‘The deafening silence from Rishi Sunak’
Responding on Saturday, Mr Khan accused the prime minister of being “complicit” in racism for failing to sentence Mr Anderson‘s feedback that “pour fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred”.
He mentioned the declare was Islamophobic and despatched the message that Muslims had been “fair game” when it got here to racism.
After his suspension, Nigel Farage advised Sky News that Mr Anderson ought to “join Reform UK” – the get together of which he’s honorary president.
But when requested the identical query, Richard Tice, chief of Reform UK, mentioned: “I haven’t been in touch with Lee, he hasn’t been in touch with me.
“We’re simply specializing in doing what we’re doing and we appear to be doing one thing proper as a result of we’re going up within the polls and the Tories are sinking, Sunak is sinking and, frankly, that is what I care about.”
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‘Divisive and damaging’
Mr Anderson’s comments come at a time of heightened community tensions as the Israel-Hamas battle rages in Gaza, with issues over the conduct of pro-Palestinian protesters and fears of violence towards MPs.
Anneliese Dodds MP, chair of the Labour Party, mentioned the remarks had been “unambiguously Islamophobic, divisive and damaging”.
She said the decision to remove the whip was the “proper” one but the suggestion he would have retained the prime minister’s confidence if he had apologised is “deeply regarding”.
Ms Dodds called on Mr Sunak to “do extra to deal with extremists in his get together”, accusing Liz Truss, the previous prime minister, and Suella Braverman, the previous house secretary, of “giving voice to hateful commentary and conspiracy theories”.
“Labour is asking on the prime minister to additionally take away the whip from Liz Truss for her egregious and embarrassing feedback about our nation on the worldwide stage and if he would not then he’s not critical about ridding the Conservatives of radical and harmful views,” she mentioned.
Rishi Sunak and Lee Anderson in January. Pic: Reuters
Some Tories have spoken out towards Mr Anderson’s remarks, together with former cupboard minister Sir Sajid Javid, who branded them “ridiculous”.
Cabinet minister Grant Shapps distanced himself from Mr Anderson’s feedback however appeared to defend his proper to “speak [his] mind”.
While enterprise minister Nus Ghani described her Tory colleague’s feedback as “foolish and dangerous”.
In a publish on X, the Wealden MP mentioned: “I have spoken to Lee Anderson. I’ve called out Islamic extremism (& been attacked by hard left, far right & Islamists).
“I do not for one second consider that Sadiq Khan is managed by Islamists. To say so, is each silly and harmful. Frankly that is all so tiring…”
Mr Anderson was a deputy chair of the Conservative Party till he resigned his post to vote towards Mr Sunak’s Rwanda invoice.
He later mentioned he wished he could get his job back.
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It will not be the primary time Mr Anderson has been topic to controversy.
He has been nicknamed “30p Lee” by some critics for beforehand suggesting that somebody might prepare dinner themselves meals from scratch for “about 30 pence a day“.
Mr Anderson will get £100,000 a 12 months for his GB News present on high of his £86,584 MP wage.