Rishi Sunak says he is ‘residing proof’ that UK is not a racist nation

Rishi Sunak has declared himself ‘residing proof’ that Britain is not a racist nation, amid a rising row over suspended Tory MP Lee Anderson’s claims that the Mayor of London is being ‘managed by Islamists.’

The Prime Minister informed The Times: ‘We’re a proud multi-ethnic democracy, one of the crucial profitable wherever on this planet.

‘I’m standing right here as residing proof of that and it’s necessary that we work onerous to guard that, as a result of that’s one of many issues that makes our nation extremely particular.’

He mentioned Anderson’s phrases to Sadiq Khan on Friday have been ‘unacceptable’, however he refused to name them Islamaphobic. 

‘In a state of affairs like this it’s necessary that we keep excessive requirements and, sadly, the phrases that Lee selected weren’t acceptable. 

‘My precedence is to try to take the warmth out of this case and that’s what everybody needs to see. And that’s why phrases matter and his phrases weren’t acceptable and we’re fallacious and that’s why the whip was suspended.’

He mentioned that ‘any type of prejudice or racism’ was unacceptable. 

But under-fire MP Lee Anderson has seemingly doubled down on earlier feedback, tonight insisting that ‘we’re dropping management’ of London to ‘extremists’ simply days after he was suspended as a Tory MP for claiming Sadiq Khan was ‘being managed by Islamists.’

The former Tory deputy chairman refused to apologise to London’s Labour mayor ‘whereas I’ve nonetheless obtained breath in my physique’ for the controversial assault. 

In a defiant assertion, which suggests there is no such thing as a prospect of an imminent return to the Conservative fold,  Mr Anderson mentioned it will be a ‘signal of weak point’ to apologise ‘while you assume you might be proper’.

He informed GB News he wouldn’t apologise ‘whereas I’ve obtained a breath in my physique… as a result of the feedback I made weren’t racist, in any respect. They maintain bandying this phrase ‘Islamophobia’ about – no person can clarify what it actually means.’

Mr Anderson added: ‘It completely makes me sick to the pit of my abdomen to see these extremists on our streets in London terrorising folks… 

‘I believe I’ve a proper – I imagine in free speech – to say that I believe mayor Khan has misplaced, and the police have misplaced, management of the streets of London.’

The lack of apology comes as deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden prompt that whereas Mr Anderson’s feedback have been ‘not acceptable’, if he apologises the celebration will ‘make a willpower at that time’

In an indication of Tory tensions over the problem, former dwelling secretary Suella Braverman final evening urged ministers to stamp out the rising menace to public life posed by Islamist extremists. 

Mrs Braverman, who has informed pals the suspension of Mr Anderson was an ‘over-reaction’, mentioned: ‘We must urgently focus now on the massive downside: the way to sort out Islamist extremism within the UK. 

The hysteria in response to these calling out the disaster is likely one of the the reason why we’re not making progress. Language does matter nevertheless it’s time for resolute authorities motion.’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned Mr Anderson was ‘fallacious’ to ‘inflame tensions’, however refused to say if he thought his feedback to be ‘Islamophobic’.

Several Tory MPs have voiced personal help for Mr Anderson. In a message on a Tory WhatsApp group, Hartlepool MP Jill Mortimer mentioned it was important the Conservatives remained a ‘broad church’ – and that Mr Anderson had been ‘an enormous asset to our celebration’.

Activists from the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO), arrange by Right-wing Tories indignant on the ousting of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, criticised the choice to droop Mr Anderson.

Leaked messages from a CDO WhatsApp group present one member saying it was ‘time for the snake of a PM to go’. 

A second described Mr Sunak as ‘weak and feeble’, The Guardian reported. Former minister for London Paul Scully warned that elements of the capital and different cities comparable to Birmingham with giant Muslim populations had develop into ‘no-go areas’ – a declare rejected by the Tory mayor of West Midlands, Andy Street.

Reform UK chief Richard Tice inspired Mr Anderson to defect, saying that though his phrases have been ‘clumsy… his sentiments are supported by hundreds of thousands of British residents, together with myself’.

Senior Tories had prompt that Mr Anderson may have the whip restored if he apologised for his feedback. But in a brand new assertion yesterday, he mentioned he had nothing to apologise for. 

‘If you might be fallacious, apologising shouldn’t be an indication of weak point however an indication of power. But while you assume you might be proper it is best to by no means apologise as a result of to take action could be an indication of weak point.’

Mr Anderson insisted that criticism of Mr Khan’s strategy was justified by his failure to take care of anti-Semitic behaviour at pro-Palestinian marches within the capital.

‘My phrases could have been clumsy however my phrases have been borne out of sheer frustration at what is going on to our lovely capital metropolis,’ he mentioned. ‘Hundreds of individuals had been arrested for racist abuse on these marches and we barely hear a peep from the mayor.

‘If these marches have been about one thing much less trendy, Sadiq Khan would have been the primary to name for them to be cancelled. It’s double requirements for political profit.’ Mr Khan mentioned Mr Anderson’s feedback had ‘poured petrol on the fires of hatred’.

Mr Sunak informed Channel 5 News that politicians had an obligation to be ‘cautious with their phrases’.

But the PM acknowledged public concern in regards to the behaviour of some pro-Palestine campaigners, saying: ‘People, I do know, are pissed off about seeing our democratic course of threatened.

‘We have a proud custom in our nation of debating concepts and disagreeing, however we try this peacefully and respectfully. 

‘We do not aggressively intimidate folks, we do not disrupt their personal occasions, we do not go and encompass MPs’ properties, and we do not threaten what is going on on in Parliament to the extent that processes there must be modified.

‘None of that’s proper, none of that’s British and I believe everybody will really feel, as I do, extremely pissed off once they see these issues taking place.’

But he insisted Britain was not a racist nation, including: ‘I’m standing right here as residing proof of that.’