Lee Anderson has stated he accepts the Tory get together had “no option” however to droop him over “Islamophobic” feedback he made concerning the mayor of London.
In a put up on X after he was suspended on Saturday afternoon, the previous Tory deputy chairman 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 fully accept that they had no option but to suspend the whip in these circumstances.
“However, I’ll proceed to help the federal government’s efforts to name out extremism in all its kinds – be that antisemitism or Islamophobia.”
Pressure had been mounting on Rishi Sunak to behave after the MP for Ashfield stated he believed “Islamists” had “obtained management” of Sadiq Khan, the London mayor.
Announcing his suspension, a spokesman for Simon Hart, the chief whip, stated: “Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the chief whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.”
Mr Anderson prompted an outcry earlier this week when he stated on GB News: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is they’ve got control of Khan and they’ve got control of London… He’s actually given our capital city away to his mates.”
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Responding on Saturday, Mr Khan accused the prime minister of being “complicit” in racism for failing to sentence Mr Anderson‘s feedback that “pour fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred”.
He stated the declare was Islamophobic and despatched the message that Muslims have been “fair game” when it got here to racism.
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer stated “it’s right” Mr Anderson had been suspended after his “appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst against Sadiq Khan”.
In a press release on X, he added: “Rishi Sunak’s weakness means Tory MPs act with impunity… The Tories may be getting more and more desperate as the election approaches, but Rishi Sunak has a responsibility to stop this slide into ever more toxic rhetoric.”
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‘Foolish and harmful’
After Mr Anderson’s suspension, Nigel Farage informed Sky News that he ought to “join Reform UK” – the get together of which he’s honorary president.
But when requested the identical query, Richard Tice, chief of Reform UK, stated: “I haven’t been in touch with Lee, he hasn’t been in touch with me.”
Mr Anderson’s feedback come at a time of heightened group tensions because the Israel-Hamas battle rages in Gaza, with considerations over the conduct of pro-Palestinian protesters and fears of violence in opposition to MPs.
Rishi Sunak and Lee Anderson in January. Pic: Reuters
Some Tories have additionally spoken out in opposition to Mr Anderson’s remarks, together with former cupboard minister Sir Sajid Javid, who branded them “ridiculous”.
Cabinet minister Grant Shapps distanced himself from Mr Anderson’s feedback however appeared to defend his proper to “speak [his] mind”.
While enterprise minister Nus Ghani described her Tory colleague’s feedback as “foolish and dangerous”.
Mr Anderson was a deputy chair of the Conservative Party till he resigned his put up to vote in opposition to Mr Sunak’s Rwanda invoice.
He later stated he wished he might get his job again.
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It isn’t the primary time Mr Anderson has been topic to controversy.
He has been nicknamed “30p Lee” by some critics for beforehand suggesting that somebody might cook dinner themselves meals from scratch for “about 30 pence a day“.
Mr Anderson will get £100,000 a yr for his GB News present on prime of his £86,584 MP wage.
Content Source: information.sky.com