Angry Tory MPs declare suspending Lee Anderson is ‘remaining nail in coffin’ for celebration
Rishi Sunak faces a backlash from Tory backbenchers after he suspended Lee Anderson for his vile assault on London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
WhatsApp messages shared between panicked right-wingers present fears the choice to droop Mr Anderson is the “final nail in the coffin” for the struggling Tories. The Ashfield MP is accused of racism and Islamophobia after he claimed Mr Khan is managed by Islamists.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper this morning repeatedly refused to model Mr Anderson’s assault racist – as a substitute repeatedly branding it mistaken. But Tory HQ hasn’t dominated out letting the controversial MP return to the fold.
The Muslim Council of Britain has known as on the PM to launch an investigation into “structural Islamophobia” inside the Tory Party. It mentioned anti-Muslim sentiment within the celebration was “on display this week”. Mr Anderson was suspended on Saturday after making the remarks about Mr Khan the earlier night.
WhatsApp messages shared with podcast Politics at Jack and Sam’s reveals Tories complaining in regards to the affect of the suspension. After backbencher Julie Marson shared a narrative displaying Nigel Farage had urged Mr Anderson to affix Reform UK, MP Tom Hunt responded: “This isn’t good at all.”
Meanwhile Jill Mortimer mentioned she’d been informed by constituents that they would not vote Tory once more after Mr Anderson was suspended. “Lee Anderson’s suspension is the final nail in the party’s coffin,” she wrote.
The alarmed messages had been shared within the ‘109 group’ of Tory MPs who had been first elected in 2019. Former Home Office minister Sarah Dines mentioned she’d had “loads” of messages from “random” constituents voicing help for Mr Anderson.
And Sarah Atherton mentioned she’d raised considerations in regards to the debacle “due to an instant backlash from members”. Darlington MP Peter Gibson then mentioned his inbox is “very positive for Lee”.
On Sunday Deputy PM Oliver Dowden prompt Mr Anderson would have gotten away with a slap on the wrist if he’d apologised. He informed the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he’d have stored the Tory whip if he’d mentioned sorry.
And this morning Transport Secretary Mark Harper left the door open for a potential return to the Tory celebration for Lee Anderson. Asked what he must say to be welcomed again, the Cabinet minister informed Sky News: “I hope he will reflect on what he said and he will retract those comments and apologise…
“But I’m not going to inform the chief whip easy methods to do his job, that is for him.” Mr Harper continued: “He’s contributed lots previously. I’d wish to see him be capable of contribute to the Conservative Party sooner or later.” The Transport Secretary declined to say whether Mr Anderson’s remarks were racist despite being pressed repeatedly, reiterating only that they were “mistaken”.
