{"id":1625,"date":"2024-02-25T02:33:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-25T02:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/lee-anderson-mp-suspended-from-tory-party-over-islamists-comments\/"},"modified":"2024-02-25T02:33:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-25T02:33:07","slug":"lee-anderson-mp-suspended-from-tory-party-over-islamists-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/lee-anderson-mp-suspended-from-tory-party-over-islamists-comments\/","title":{"rendered":"Lee Anderson: MP suspended from Tory party over ‘Islamists’ comments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lee Anderson: MP suspended from Tory party over ‘Islamists’ comments<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"MP<\/picture><\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
By Thomas Mackintosh<\/div>\n
BBC News<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson has been suspended from the party after “refusing to apologise” for comments aimed at Sadiq Khan.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The Conservative Ashfield MP told GB News on Friday “Islamists” had “got control” of the mayor of London.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Responding on Saturday, Mr Khan described the remarks as “pouring fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Mr Anderson said his comments had put the chief whip and PM in a “difficult position”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Losing the Conservative whip essentially expels Mr Anderson from his party in Parliament.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Just over an hour after Mr Khan’s criticism, a spokesperson for the Tory party’s chief whip Simon Hart said: “Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the chief whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Speaking on GB News Mr Anderson said: “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\u2026 He’s actually given our capital city away to his mates.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Pressure then mounted on Rishi Sunak to take action over the comments from the Ashfield MP after Mr Khan criticised a “deafening silence” from the prime minister and his Cabinet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Until January Mr Anderson served as one of the deputy chairmen of the Conservative Party, but he resigned so he could rebel against the government over the Rwanda vote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Posting his reaction to losing the whip on social media Mr Anderson said: “Following a call with the chief whip, I understand the difficult position that I have put both he and the prime minister in with regard to my comments. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“I fully accept that they had no option but to suspend the whip in these circumstances. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“However, I will continue to support the government’s efforts to call out extremism in all its forms – be that anti-Semitism or Islamophobia.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/svg><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

This video can not be played<\/p>\n

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Earlier on Saturday afternoon, Mr Khan responded to the comments Mr Anderson first made on GB News which he described as “Islamophobic, anti-Muslim and racist”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“These comments pour fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred,” Mr Khan said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The London mayor added he was “unclear why Rishi Sunak and members of his Cabinet” were not calling out the remarks or condemning the comments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Mr Anderson’s initial remarks have prompted criticism from some Tories, including former chancellor Sir Sajid Javid who said the remarks were “ridiculous”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it welcomed Mr Anderson’s suspension but claimed it has “only taken place after widespread disgust”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

A MCB spokesman said: “The Conservative Party has an Islamophobia problem. They need to own up to it.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Related Topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n