‘Lee Anderson suspension is welcome – however Conservatives have larger downside’

While the withdrawal of the whip from Lee Anderson is welcome, his remarks are the tip of the iceberg of a a lot larger downside within the Conservative Party.

Anderson was not suspended for his vitriolic remarks on GB News, however for failing to apologise for them. Would he nonetheless have been suspended had he apologised? The Prime Minister’s silence is telling. Will he condemn Anderson’s remarks and take away him from the celebration? Or will his suspension be lifted when folks lose curiosity, as with earlier councillors?

Will the PM return to GB News if Anderson retains his present? These are questions we’d like solutions to. In my view, Anderson’s remarks had been Islamophobia. Using “Islamist” as a racist cowl – after I say the intent clearly is Muslims – is a typical strategy of far-right activists to justify their racism.

Anderson explicitly engaged within the false Islamophobic trope of Muslims “taking over London”, whereas additionally attacking Sadiq Khan, by the very nature of him being Muslim, as having “mates” who’re fanatics. Such racist assumptions about Muslims (or some other group) don’t have any place in public life.