By City AM reporter
Lee Anderson has had the Conservative whip suspended following his widely criticised claim that London Mayor Sadiq Khan was controlled by “Islamists”.
A spokesperson for the party’s chief whip Simon Hart said the decision had been made following the former Tory deputy chairman’s “refusal to apologise” for the remarks made on Friday.
Pressure had been mounting on Rishi Sunak to take action over the comments from the Ashfield MP, with Khan saying the “deafening silence” of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet amounted to condoning racism.
A spokesperson for Hart said: “Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the chief whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.”
Business minister Nus Ghani today described fellow Anderson’s claim that “Islamists” have “got control” of London Mayor Sadiq Khan as “foolish and dangerous”.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Wealden MP said: “I have spoken to Lee Anderson. I’ve called out Islamic extremism (& been attacked by hard left, far right & Islamists).
“I don’t for one moment believe that Sadiq Khan is controlled by Islamists. To say so, is both foolish and dangerous. Frankly this is all so tiring…”
Press Association – Nina Lloyd
