MP Lee Anderson nonetheless refuses to apologise for Sadiq Khan feedback
Lee Anderson says he’ll ‘proceed to help efforts to name out extremism in all its varieties’ after he was suspended by the Conservatives for refusing to apologise for ‘Islamophobic, racist’ feedback he made in regards to the Mayor of London.
Mr Anderson, MP for Ashfield, had the whip withdrawn after he made feedback on GB News suggesting Sadiq Khan was managed by ‘Islamists’ and had ‘given our capital metropolis away to his mates’ in an interview on GB News.
A spokesperson for the social gathering’s chief whip Simon Hart stated the choice had been made following the previous Tory deputy chairman’s ‘refusal to apologise’ for the remarks made on Friday.
Following his suspension, Mr Anderson stated he ‘absolutely accepted’ that Mr Hart and the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, had ‘no possibility’ however to droop his social gathering membership, including that he would proceed to help ‘efforts to name out extremism’.
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer stated it was ‘proper’ for Mr Anderson to lose the whip – however has accused the social gathering of permitting different MPs to ‘act with impunity’ over different controversial statements and actions this week.
Lee Anderson has been suspended by the Conservative social gathering after he refused to apologise for ‘Islamophobic, racist’ feedback the place he claimed that London Mayor Sadiq Khan was managed by ‘Islamists’
In an announcement shared on social media, Mr Anderson stated he would ‘proceed to help the Government’s efforts to name out extremism’, together with Islamophobia
Sadiq Khan has hit out towards Lee Anderson for ‘pouring gasoline on the fireplace of anti-Muslim hatred’ after the Tory MP made ‘Islamophobic, racist’ feedback about him
Lee Anderson (pictured) stated on GB News final night time that Sadiq Khan – the primary Muslim Mayor of London – is managed by Islamists and that he has ‘given our capital metropolis away to his mates’
The Mayor criticised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) for his ‘deafening silence’
Pressure had been mounting on Rishi Sunak to take motion over the feedback from the Ashfield MP, with Mr Khan (pictured) saying the ‘deafening silence’ of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet amounted to condoning racism
Reform UK chief Richard Tice (pictured throughout the social gathering’s spring convention at this time) stated he was not fascinated by ‘pathetic Tory squabbling’ when requested about Anderson’s future
He stated: ‘Following a name with the Chief Whip, I perceive the troublesome place that I’ve put each he and the Prime Minister in with regard to my feedback.
‘I absolutely settle for that they’d no possibility however to droop the whip in these circumstances.
‘However, I’ll proceed to help the Government’s efforts to name out extremism in all its varieties – be that anti-Semitism or Islamophobia.’
Pressure had been mounting on Rishi Sunak to take motion over the feedback from the Ashfield MP, with Mr Khan saying the ‘deafening silence’ of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet amounted to condoning racism.
A spokesperson for Mr Hart stated: ‘Following his refusal to apologise for feedback made yesterday, the Chief Whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.’
A Conservative supply was defending Mr Anderson final night time and this morning earlier than he was stripped of social gathering help at round 3pm this afternoon.
This comes after Sadiq Khan hit out towards Anderson earlier this afternoon for ‘pouring gasoline on the fireplace of anti-Muslim hatred’.
The ex-deputy Tory chairman stated on GB News final night time that Khan – the primary Muslim Mayor of London – is managed by Islamists and that he has ‘given our capital metropolis away to his mates’.
Mr Anderson stated final night time: ‘I do not really consider that these Islamists have gotten management of our nation, however what I do consider is they have management of Khan and so they’ve bought management of London and so they’ve bought management of Starmer as nicely.
‘Again, this stems with Khan, he is really given our capital metropolis away to his mates.
‘Beware, as a result of if you happen to let Labour in via the again door, count on extra of this and count on our cities to be taken over by these lunatics.’
Comparisons have been made between Mr Anderson’s feedback on GB News and remarks made by Suella Braverman within the Telegraph on Friday, through which she stated ‘the Islamists, the extremists and the anti-Semites are in cost’ of the UK.
Ms Braverman was sacked as Home Secretary after writing an inflammatory article for The Times through which she urged police had been biased in the direction of pro-Palestinian protesters; the article was not signed off by Downing Street.
Criticisms have additionally been directed at former Prime Minister Liz Truss after she appeared to not react to former Trump strategist Steve Bannon describing far-right thug Tommy Robinson as a ‘hero’ on the conservative CPAC convention within the US.
Both stay Conservative MPs regardless of calls from some, together with Brent Central Labour MP Dawn Butler, for his or her social gathering membership to be suspended.
Responding after Mr Anderson was suspended, Sir Keir Starmer stated: ‘It’s proper that Lee Anderson has misplaced the whip after his appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst towards Sadiq Khan.
‘But what does it say in regards to the Prime Minister’s judgment that he made Lee Anderson deputy chairman of his social gathering?
‘Whether it’s Liz Truss staying silent on Tommy Robinson or Suella Braverman’s excessive rhetoric, Rishi Sunak’s weak point means Tory MPs can act with impunity.
‘This is not simply embarrassing for the Conservative Party, it emboldens the worst forces in our politics. Rishi Sunak must get a grip and tackle the extremists in his social gathering.
‘The Tories could also be getting an increasing number of determined because the election approaches, however Rishi Sunak has a duty to cease this slide into ever extra poisonous rhetoric.’
Ms Butler tweeted: ‘Now @10DowningStreet has to take away the whip from #SuellaBraverman. Suella Braverman stated “the Islamists are in charge” of Britain.
‘Liz Truss stated (eyes emoji) (facepalm emoji). All from Trump playbook! We do not want that hatred imported to the UK. Dangerous for our democracy.’
The Conservative social gathering declined to remark.
Anderson had earned a fame as an assault canine and enforcer inside the social gathering previous to his resignation from the deputy social gathering chair final month
He had been seen as a precious pink wall ally to Rishi Sunak earlier than he opted to insurgent towards the federal government on the Rwanda invoice in January
Tory Minister Nus Ghani branded Lee Anderson’s feedback as ‘each silly and harmful’
Anderson’s feedback, which had been made following pro-Palestine protests exterior Parliament, have been condemned by Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds
Former Conservative chancellor Sir Sajid Javid branded Anderson’s remarks as ‘ridiculous’
The ex-deputy Tory chairman stated on GB News final night time that Khan (pictured) is managed by Islamists and that he has ‘given our capital metropolis away to his mates’
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Khan stated the feedback from the senior Conservative MP ‘pour gasoline on the fireplace of anti-Muslim hatred’.
He added: ‘We’ve seen over the past two days affirmation that over the previous couple of months there had been an enhance in anti-Muslim circumstances by greater than 330%.
‘I’m afraid the deafening silence from Rishi Sunak and from the cupboard is them condoning this racism.
‘I feel it is actually essential to name out antisemitism, it is actually essential to name out misogyny, it is actually essential to name out homophobia, however absolutely it should even be essential to name out anti-Muslim hatred.
‘My concern is there will probably be individuals throughout the nation – people who find themselves Muslim or seem like Muslims – who will probably be actually involved about getting into into politics as a result of they know that if these are the feedback being made about me by a senior Conservative, what likelihood have they got?’
He stated he was undecided why members of the cupboard weren’t ‘calling this out’ and condemning Anderson’s phrases.
Tobias Ellwood, Conservative MP, advised BBC Radio 4’s PM programme on Saturday night he was ‘disgusted’ by Mr Anderson’s remarks.
He added: ‘I feel some people have overpassed what it means to be a Conservative and what has previously allowed us to safe electoral success.
‘We’ve accomplished nicely after we function from the centre-right. When we begin courting populism which means we lose; we resort to the acute and no excessive events ever win.
‘I’m happy motion was swiftly taken however you might argue it was virtually overdue. Let’s get again to politics and never doing the Trump-esque noise which by some means appears to draw components in our social gathering however definitely is not going to attraction to Britain as a complete.’
Asked if he would welcome Mr Anderson leaving, Mr Ellwood added: ‘That’s for him to determine. I’ve distanced myself from that type of politics. Conservatives are higher than that.’
This morning, Grant Shapps stated he ‘would not phrase issues like that’, when requested whether or not Anderson’s feedback about Sadiq Khan had been acceptable – however he stopped wanting condemning them.
The Defence Secretary distanced himself from Mr Anderson’s claims, but did say he believed the Mayor accomplished ‘horrible issues to our capital’ and that he had considerations about the way in which pro-Palestinian protests had been being policed.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Shapps stated: ‘I have never seen the feedback, I ought to say, so simply primarily based off what you have simply advised me, nevertheless it’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 happening, 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 stated the matter was ‘one for (the) social gathering itself’.
He declined to say whether or not Mr Anderson was a great consultant voice for the Conservative social gathering, saying solely that ‘we stay in a democracy the place individuals are allowed to talk their thoughts and Lee Anderson, I feel, is famed for talking his thoughts.’
‘I’m happy motion was swiftly taken however you might argue it was virtually overdue. Let’s get again to politics and never doing the Trump-esque noise which by some means appears to draw components in our social gathering however definitely is not going to attraction to Britain as a complete.’
The Labour Party earlier wrote to Rishi Sunak demanding that he withdraw the Tory whip from Anderson for his ‘vile Islamophobia’ and ‘harmful conspiracy theories’.
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 eternally referred to as too weak to take them on.’
Removing the whip implies that Anderson would now not sit as a Tory MP inside the House of Commons.
A Conservative supply stated this morning: ‘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’ve got seen in London not too long ago.’
A serving junior Tory minister earlier hit out towards Anderson, saying his feedback are ‘each silly and harmful’.
Business minister of state Nus Ghani, who’s a Muslim, wrote at 11.46am on X: ‘I’ve spoken to Lee Anderson.
‘I’ve referred to as out Islamic extremism (& been attacked by exhausting left, far proper & 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…’
In response to Anderson’s feedback the Muslim Council of Britain stated: ‘While we welcome Mr Anderson’s suspension, his feedback didn’t happen in a vacuum and is barely the tip of an iceberg.
‘We have seen per week the place Conservative politicians have overtly leaned into the ‘Muslims are taking over’ trope.
‘And Mr Anderson’s suspension has solely taken place after widespread disgust. The Conservative Party has an Islamophobia downside. They have to come clean with it.’
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood stated he was ‘disgusted’ by Mr Anderson’s remarks, including: ‘Conservatives are higher than that’
A spokesperson for chief Tory social gathering whip Simon Hart (pictured) stated the choice had been taken to droop Mr Anderson over his ‘refusal to apologise’ for the GB News remarks
Conservative chief at London City Hall, Neil Garratt, additionally criticised Anderson
Former Conservative MP and Theresa May’s ex-chief of employees Gavin Barwell slammed Anderson
Grant Shapps (pictured) distanced himself from Mr Anderson’s declare that Islamists had ‘bought management’ of Mr Khan and that the mayor had ‘given our capital metropolis away to his mates’
His suspension has prompted hypothesis that Mr Anderson could lastly defect to Richard Tice’s Reform UK, previously the Brexit Party – whom he claims has sought to recruit him previously.
Nigel Farage, who stepped down as Reform chief in 2021, advised the Express at this time that Anderson ought to make the leap to the social gathering, which made positive factors towards the Tories in a sequence of current by-elections, alarming Tory chiefs.
Mr Farage stated: ‘Lee Anderson ought to be part of Reform UK.’
Mr Tice didn’t rule out opening the door to Mr Anderson after his suspension, telling the PA information company on Saturday: “I haven’t been in touch with Lee, he hasn’t been in touch with me.’
Anderson’s comments, which were made following pro-Palestine protests outside Parliament, were earlier condemned by Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds as ‘unambiguously racist and Islamophobic’.
She wrote on X: ‘Rishi Sunak wants to instantly take away the whip.
If he is too weak, then people will take their own view of the modern Conservative Party.’
Former Conservative chancellor and Home Secretary Sir Sajid Javid, who is of Muslim background but does not practice any religion, branded Anderson’s remarks as ‘a ridiculous thing to say’.
Conservative leader at London City Hall, Neil Garratt, also criticised Anderson, saying: ‘The Saturday marches fuel both antisemitism and the fear of antisemitism. Many Jews no longer feel welcome in their own city, hence why I have repeatedly argued that the police should do more.
‘But Islamists have not taken control of Sadiq Khan, and they are not running London.
‘I have no shortage of criticisms of Mayor Khan as regular viewers will know, but he is not an Islamist, he is not in the pockets of Islamists, and I completely disagree with anyone who says otherwise.’
Former Conservative MP and Theresa May’s ex-chief of staff Gavin Barwell slammed Anderson for his comments, tweeting: ‘A despicable slur on @SadiqKhan and Londoners.
‘In his first speech as PM, @RishiSunak said he would “unite our nation”. If he allows the likes of Anderson to spread hate and division like this, those words will be revealed as a sham.’
Nigel Farage has suggested that Mr Anderson should join Reform UK – the political organisation he founded as the Brexit Party
Anderson (pictured) was one of the deputy chairmen of the Conservative Party until January, but he resigned as he planned to rebel over the vote of the Government’s Rwanda bill
Shadow cabinet member Jonathan Ashworth (pictured), who penned the letter, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Sunak has a clear choice: show some backbone and withdraw the whip or be forever known as too weak to take them on’
Sadiq Khan said the comments were ‘Islamophobic, anti-Muslim and racist’ – and came after independent reports suggested Muslim hate crime had tripled in recent months
A Conservative spokesperson said: ‘An investigation and subsequent independent review, both conducted over several years by professor Swaran Singh, found no evidence of institutional racism in the Conservative Party.’
Anderson’s comments on Sadiq Khan are just the latest in a long line of controversial and contentious statements he has made in the press.
He had earned a reputation as an attack dog and enforcer within the party prior to his resignation from the deputy party chair last month, previously hitting out at MPs such as Labour’s Jess Phillips for taking on additional work after she presented an episode of BBC topical panel show Have I Got News For You.
Anderson later accepted a £100,000 deal to present shows on GB News while also working as an MP.
In an interview with the Spectator final August, he referred to as for the return of the loss of life penalty as a result of ‘no person has ever dedicated against the law after being executed‘.
He has previously accused people who use food banks of being unable to ‘cook properly’, adding: ‘We can make a meal for about 30p a day’, earning him the 30p Lee monicker.
Anderson stepped down as deputy Tory party chairman in January to rebel against Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill.
He in the end abstained after he stated he could not bear to face amongst Labour MPs additionally voting towards it as a result of they ‘giggled and laughed’ at him.
In the same interview with GB News last night, Anderson said that politicians should take over the from the police as they were not cracking down hard enough on pro-Palestine protesters.
He said: ‘Ultimately we run the country, and if the police aren’t doing their job – and they’re not doing their job… we need to step in and take over.’
