Lee Anderson suspended from Conservative Party over 'Islamophobic' comments
The Conservative Ashfield MP said "Islamists" had "got control" of the mayor of London
Last updated 25th Feb 2024
Former Tory deputy chairman and Ashfield MP Lee Anderson has been suspended from the party after "refusing to apologise" for comments aimed at Sadiq Khan.
He told GB News on Friday "Islamists" had "got control" of the mayor of London.
Responding on Saturday, Mr Khan described the remarks as "pouring fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred".
Mr Anderson said his comments had put the chief whip and PM in a "difficult position".
Losing the Conservative whip essentially expels Mr Anderson from his party in Parliament.
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… He's actually given our capital city away to his mates."
Lee Anderson has said he accepts the Tory party had "no option" but to suspend him over "Islamophobic" comments he made about the mayor of London.
In a post on X after he was suspended on Saturday afternoon, the former Tory deputy chairman 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.
"I fully accept that they had no option but to suspend the whip in these circumstances.
"However, I will continue to support the government's efforts to call out extremism in all its forms - be that antisemitism or Islamophobia."
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "it's right" Mr Anderson had been suspended after his "appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst against Sadiq Khan".
In a statement 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."
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.