Ex-Tory MP Lee Anderson joins Reform UK after Sadiq Khan slur controversy

Loudmouth MP Lee Anderson has joined Reform UK after being suspended by the Tories over his vile assault on Sadiq Khan.

The former Conservative deputy chairman misplaced the whip after he instructed the London Mayor is managed by “Islamists” and had “given our capital city away to his mates”. His remarks triggered a large backlash, together with from Tory Minister Nusrat Ghani who warned they had been “foolish and dangerous”. Sir Sajid Javid, the previous Cabinet minister, mentioned it was a “ridiculous thing to say”.

Reform UK chief Richard Tice unveiled Mr Anderson because the occasion’s first MP at a press convention in London, branding him a “champion of the Red Wall”. He beforehand served as a Labour councillor earlier than turning into the Tory MP for Ashfield in 2019.

Mr Anderson advised reporters: “I want my country back”. He added: “My opinions are not controversial, they are opinions shared by millions of people up and down the country.”

The information will come as a blow to Rishi Sunak, as Mr Anderson is standard among the many Tory grassroots. His presence may enhance the profile of the Nigel Farage-founded occasion, which is difficult the Conservatives from the appropriate.

It marks a shift from Mr Anderson’s place initially of January, when he branded Mr Tice a “pound store Nigel Farage” and mentioned Reform UK was “not a proper political party”.

In an interview with GB News on the time, he mentioned: “Mr Tice is the leader of the Reform Party and as I understand is unelected. He actually took the reins of the Reform Party after Nigel stepped down. This is not a proper political party, by the way, this is a company. Mr. Tice’s spouted his mouth off and he’s had a little pop at me today.

“I get on with Richard reasonably well, but I would say this: He’s not Nigel Farage, he’s not the leader that Nigel Farage was. In fact, I agree with one of my constituents, who said to me earlier today he is a bit of a pound shop Nigel Farage.”

Liberal Democrat deputy chief Daisy Cooper mentioned: “Rishi Sunak’s authority lies in tatters after the man he personally appointed to be deputy chairman of the Conservatives has defected to another party. This is a Prime Minister that cannot govern his own party, let alone the country.”