Lee Anderson suspended by Tories as he refuses to apologise for ‘racist’ slur
Lee Anderson has had the Conservative whip suspended after he refused to apologise for suggesting Sadiq Khan is managed by Muslim extremists.
Appearing on GB News on Friday, the MP mentioned the London Mayor had “given our capital city away to his mates”. “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 added.
Labour accused Mr Anderson of racism and Islamophobia because the get together referred to as on the Prime Minister to kick him out.
A string of senior Conservatives additionally publicly condemned the remarks, together with Tory Minister Nus Ghani who warned they had been “foolish and dangerous”. Sir Sajid Javid, the previous Cabinet minister, mentioned it was a “ridiculous thing to say”.
A spokesman for Government Chief Whip Simon Hart mentioned: “Following his refusal to apologise for feedback made yesterday, the Chief Whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.”
The statement appears to suggest Mr Anderson would have escaped with just a slap on the wrists if he had agreed to apologise.
The determination got here after Rishi Sunak was criticised for failing to behave. Mr Khan had accused the PM and his Cabinet of “condoning” racism via their “deafening silence” over the feedback.
The Mayor of London additionally argued there was “a hierarchy when it comes to racism” and that Muslims can be “really concerned” abut coming into into politics.
He mentioned: “These comments from a senior Conservative are Islamophobic, are anti-Muslim and are racist. We’ve seen over the last two days confirmation that over the last few months there’s been an increase in anti-Muslim cases by more than 330%.
“These feedback pour gasoline on the fireplace of anti-Muslim hatred, and I’m afraid the deafening silence from Rishi Sunak and from the Cabinet is them condoning this racism, and I’m afraid it confirms to many individuals throughout the nation that there is a hierarchy with regards to racism.
“I think it’s really important to call out antisemitism, it’s really important to call out misogyny, it’s really important to call out homophobia, but surely it must also be important to call out anti-Muslim hatred?
“My concern is there will be individuals throughout the nation, people who find themselves Muslim, or appear to be Muslims, who’ll be actually involved about coming into into politics as a result of they know if these are the kinds of feedback which are mentioned in opposition to me by a senior Conservative, what likelihood have they got?”
Mr Anderson will not sit as an independent MP in the House of Commons after having the Tory whip suspended.
Mr Sunak appointed him as Conservative Deputy Chairman last year, but he stood down from the role last month following a disagreement of the Rwanda plan.
The Ashfield MP moonlights as a £100,000-a-year TV presenter on GB News even though he used to rail against those who split their time between the Commons and other work. “I don’t have a second job, I love the job I have already,” he previously posted on Facebook.
In the first episode of his GB News show, Mr Anderson was recorded feeding cold baked beans to fellow Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith. On the second programme, he attempted to persuade fellow presenter Michelle Dewberry to eat cat food, but she refused.
Mr Anderson has a history of saying controversial things. He has repeatedly ranted about struggling Brits relying on foodbanks – and earned the nickname ’30p Lee’ for his claims about the cost of meals.
