Host kicks Tory off present for refusing to say if Lee Anderson was Islamophobic

A fed-up radio presenter kicked a Tory minister off his present after he repeatedly refused to say if Lee Anderson was Islamophobic.

Illegal migration Minister Michael Tomlinson was requested seven occasions to clarify why Mr Anderson’s remarks had led to the Tory whip being withdrawn. But he repeatedly refused to take action, as an alternative irately saying it was “wrong”.

Despite being warned that presenter Nick Ferrari was about to hold up on him, Mr Tomlinson would not say if Mr Anderson’s remarks have been Islamophobic. A annoyed Mr Ferrari informed him: “Minister I’m normally a very polite man but I’m going to have to effectively put the phone down. I’ve asked you six times, was it Islamophobic?”

Mr Tomlinson stammered: “It was wrong.” A clearly irritated Mr Ferrari then informed him: “I had to curtail the interview there, I’m grateful for your time, but enough already. Michael Tomlinson the minister for illegal migration there, unable to answer a question.”

During the awkward trade Mr Tomlinson had earlier fumbled: “What he said was wrong as a result of what he says, the whip was removed from him. That was robust action.”

Tory frontbenchers have repeatedly backed away from saying if Mr Anderson incited hatred towards Muslims by claiming London Mayor Sadiq Khan was managed by Islamists. But within the Commons yesterday, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat appeared to lastly acknowledge it by saying: “The whip was removed immediately because anti-Muslim hatred is wrong.”

It has fuelled hypothesis that high Tories are reluctant to name Mr Anderson out for his vile remarks to allow them to deliver him again into the fold. On Sunday Deputy PM Oliver Dowden confirmed he would not have had the whip withdrawn if he’d stated sorry.

Appearing on GB News on Monday night, Mr Anderson stated he is not going to apologise till the day he dies. “I’m not sorry because I stand by my words. It’s not racist to call out Islamists,” he stated.

The Ashfield MP argued the Conservatives “could have given me a little bit more backing” as he was keen to indicate “a little bit of contrition”. But he added: “I didn’t directly apologise to Mayor Khan, which I’m not going to, not while I’ve got a breath in my body because the comments I made weren’t racist at all.”

Mr Anderson declined to say whether or not he’ll defect to Reform UK after Nigel Farage recommended he can be welcome within the rival celebration, however he insisted: “I will be standing at the next election.”

Asked if he has any Muslim mates, Mr Anderson stated: “I’ve received a couple of in Parliament and some again house. The ones in Parliament should not very completely happy about remarks, however what I say to them is my feedback weren’t racist.