Calls for Lee Anderson to lose Tory whip for ‘racist’ Khan feedback

Labour has known as for Lee Anderson to lose the Tory social gathering whip after the outspoken MP made ‘racist and Islamophobic’ feedback about London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The ex-deputy Tory chairman mentioned on GB News final night time that the primary Muslim Mayor of London is managed by Islamists and that he has ‘given our capital metropolis away to his mates’.

He mentioned: ‘I do not truly imagine that these Islamists have gotten management of our nation, however what I do imagine is they have management of Khan and so they’ve received management of London and so they’ve received management of Starmer as properly.

‘Again, this stems with Khan, he is truly given our capital metropolis away to his mates.

‘Beware, as a result of in the event you let Labour in via the again door, anticipate extra of this and anticipate our cities to be taken over by these lunatics.’

The Labour Party has written to Rishi Sunak demanding that he withdraw the whip from Anderson for his ‘vile Islamophobia’ and ‘harmful conspiracy theories’ in direction of the primary Muslim Mayor of London.

Shadow cupboard member Jonathan Ashworth, who penned the letter, wrote on X, previously Twitter: ‘Sunak has a transparent alternative: present some spine and withdraw the whip or be without end often called too weak to take them on.’

Removing the whip implies that Anderson would not be sitting as a Tory MP throughout the House of Commons.

But a Conservative supply mentioned: ‘Lee was merely making the purpose that the Mayor, in his capability as PCC for London, has abjectly did not get a grip on the appalling examples of extremism we have now seen in London just lately.’

Anderson’s feedback, which had been made following pro-Palestine protests outdoors Parliament, have been condemned by Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds as ‘unambiguously racist and Islamophobic’.

She wrote on X: ‘Rishi Sunak wants to right away take away the whip.

If he’s too weak, then folks will take their very own view of the fashionable Conservative Party.’

Former Conservative chancellor and Home Secretary Sir Sajid Javid, who’s of Muslim background however doesn’t apply any faith, branded Anderson’s remarks as ‘a ridiculous factor to say’.

And this morning, the Defence Secretary has mentioned he ‘would not phrase issues like that’, when requested whether or not Anderson’s feedback about Sadiq Khan had been acceptable.

Grant Shapps distanced himself from Mr Anderson’s declare that Islamists had ‘received management’ of Mr Khan and that the mayor had ‘given our capital metropolis away to his mates’.

But Mr Shapps added that he thinks the Mayor has executed ‘horrible issues to our capital’ and that he had considerations about the way in which pro-Palestinian protests are being policed.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he mentioned: ‘I have not seen the feedback, I ought to say, so simply based mostly off what you have simply informed me, but it surely’s definitely not the way in which I might put issues.

‘I feel there are extra considerations about the way in which that a few of these protests have been going down, particularly what we noticed projected onto Parliament this week, however I definitely would not phrase issues like that.’

Asked whether or not Mr Anderson ought to lose the Tory whip, Mr Shapps mentioned the matter was ‘one for social gathering itself’.

The Defence Secretary declined to say whether or not Mr Anderson was consultant voice for the Conservative Party, saying solely that ‘we reside in a democracy the place individuals are allowed to talk their thoughts and Lee Anderson, I feel, is famed for talking his thoughts.’

Conservative chief at London City Hall, Neil Garratt, additionally criticised Anderson, saying: ‘The Saturday marches gasoline each antisemitism and the worry of antisemitism. Many Jews not really feel welcome in their very own metropolis, therefore why I’ve repeatedly argued that the police ought to do extra.

‘But Islamists haven’t taken management of Sadiq Khan, and they aren’t working London.

‘I’ve no scarcity of criticisms of Mayor Khan as common viewers will know, however he isn’t an Islamist, he isn’t within the pockets of Islamists, and I fully disagree with anybody who says in any other case.’

Former Conservative MP and Theresa May’s ex-chief of employees Gavin Barwell slammed Anderson for his feedback, tweeting: ‘A despicable slur on @SadiqKhan and Londoners.

‘In his first speech as PM, @RishiSunak mentioned he would “unite our country”. If he permits the likes of Anderson to unfold hate and division like this, these phrases shall be revealed as a sham.’

Anderson was one of many deputy chairmen of the Conservative Party till January, however he resigned as he deliberate to insurgent over the vote of the Government’s Rwanda invoice.

But he ended up abstaining on the vote after he mentioned Labour MPs ‘had been sniggering and taking the mick’ out of him as he stood within the No Lobby to vote.

In the identical interview with GB News final night time, Anderson mentioned that politicians ought to take over the from the police as they weren’t cracking down laborious sufficient on pro-Palestine protesters.

He mentioned: ‘Ultimately we run the nation, and if the police aren’t doing their job – and so they’re not doing their job… we have to step in and take over.’