Tory Party Suspends Lee Anderson Over ‘Islamist’ Claim

Lee Anderson Suspended by Tory Party for Alleged ‘Islamist’ Claim

February 24, 2024 TruthUSA

Labour is demanding that the Prime Minister suspend Mr. Anderson and former Prime Minister Liz Truss for their recent comments.

MP Lee Anderson was suspended by the Conservative Party on Saturday for accusing London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of being influenced by Islamists.

This move came after Labour called for Mr. Anderson and Liz Truss to have the Conservative whip removed due to their recent media appearances.

Chief whip Simon Hart’s spokesperson announced that Mr. Anderson’s suspension was due to his refusal to apologize for his statements made on Friday.

“In light of his refusal to apologize for his remarks yesterday, the chief whip has suspended Lee Anderson MP’s Conservative whip,” the spokesperson stated.

The MP for Ashfield acknowledged that the party had no choice but to suspend him, saying, “I understand the difficult position I have put both the chief whip and the Prime Minister in with my comments.”

“I fully acknowledge that under these circumstances, the party had no alternative but to suspend the whip,” he added.

‘Cowardly Khan’

Mr. Anderson, who formerly held the position of Tory deputy chair, made controversial statements on GB News attributing the chaotic scenes in and around Parliament to Mr. Khan and Sir Keir during a recent debate on the Israel-Gaza ceasefire.

The discussion spiraled out of control after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle deviated from the usual protocol by prioritizing Labour’s amendment in what was originally a Scottish National Party opposition day debate, citing MP security concerns as part of his decision.

Outside Parliament, controversial slogans, including “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” were projected onto the Elizabeth Tower.

The Metropolitan Police, criticized for not intervening, clarified that the usage of these words was not a criminal offense in that context.

Blaming Mr. Khan, who shares policing responsibilities in London with the Home Secretary, Mr. Anderson claimed, “We’ve got a very cowardly Khan running London.”

Touching on former Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s comments, where she mentioned that “the Islamists, the extremists, and the anti-Semites are in charge,” Mr. Anderson stated, “I don’t believe these Islamists have control over our country, but they do have control over Khan, London, and Starmer.”

He accused Sir Keir of crumbling under pressure, referencing the Labour amendment that triggered the chaotic debate.

He further alleged that Mr. Khan was giving London to his associates and Sir Keir was more focused on reaching No. 10 Downing Street than safeguarding the nation.

‘Islamophobic’

Mr. Anderson faced accusations of Islamophobia for his statements, with many criticizing his remarks about Mr. Khan specifically.

Mr. Khan condemned the comments as Islamophobic, anti-Muslim, and racist, stating that they fuel anti-Muslim hatred and accused ministers of condoning racism by staying silent.

He dismissed the notion that the police have the authority to ban protests, deeming it a dangerous path to take.

Mr. Anderson’s remarks also stirred discontent among Conservative members, particularly within the Muslim community.

Former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid, a secular Muslim, criticized the comments on social media, calling them “ridiculous.”

Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon expressed disagreement with Mr. Anderson’s divisive views and language, emphasizing his pride in London’s diversity and denouncing extreme rhetoric as a long-standing Conservative member.

Business minister Nus Ghani condemned the rhetoric as both foolish and dangerous, rejecting the notion that Mr. Khan is controlled by Islamists.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, in an interview with BBC Breakfast, said he wouldn’t phrase things in the manner Mr. Anderson did, acknowledging his right to express his opinions within a democratic system.

Politician and commentator Matt Goodwin stressed the importance of not diverting attention from the issue of radical Islamism in Britain amidst the political and media backlash following the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7. He warned against dismissing this critical issue.

Labour Call to Remove Whip From Truss

Following Mr. Anderson’s suspension, Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds criticized his remarks as unequivocally Islamophobic, divisive, and harmful.

She argued that the Tories should have suspended him even if he had issued an apology.

Ms. Dodds emphasized the need for the Prime Minister to address extremism within his party, pointing to Ms. Truss and Ms. Braverman as examples of individuals promoting hateful commentary and conspiracy theories.

She reiterated Labour’s demand for Mr. Sunak to strip Ms. Truss of the Conservative whip in light of her controversial comments made on the international stage, referring to statements she delivered at a recent U.S. Conservative Political Action Conference.

During the conference, Ms. Truss blamed the economic establishment for her short-lived premiership, raising concerns about elements such as the deep state and bureaucratic establishment that weren’t received positively.

She faced criticism for failing to oppose Mr. Bannon’s praise of Tommy Robinson as a “hero” for his efforts in highlighting Muslim grooming gangs in Britain.

In response, Sir Keir commented on X, condemning Mr. Anderson’s remarks and grilling the Prime Minister for appointing him as the party’s deputy chairman. He emphasized the need for Mr. Sunak to confront extremism within his party.

PA Media contributed to this report.

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