Anderson avoided apologizing for his racist, anti-Muslim statements (European)

The British Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, was forced to exclude one of its parliamentary bloc representatives, after he refused to apologize for accusing the Labor Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, of being controlled by Islamists.

After it sparked widespread condemnation for being racist and anti-Islam.

Party spokesman Simon Hart announced the suspension of MP Lee Anderson's membership in the Conservative bloc in Parliament, "after his refusal to apologize for statements he made the day before yesterday, Friday."

Anderson had told the ultra-conservative "GB News" network that the Islamists "took control" of Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim to assume the mayor of the British capital, adding that Sadiq Khan, who was elected in 2016, "handed over our capital to his comrades."

Pressure has intensified on the Conservatives to act on Lee Anderson, the MP for a constituency in northern England, who previously held the position of deputy leader of the party, who often raises controversy, especially in light of a noticeable increase in incidents linked to anti-Muslims in the United Kingdom.

The conservative MP's statements come amid great polarization taking place in the country, since the start of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7.

His statements sparked condemnation from all political parties, with Labor Party leader Anneliese Dodds describing them as “unequivocally racist and anti-Islam.”

The British Muslim Council, the body representing British Muslims, also denounced the statements as “disgraceful.”

For his part, Siddiq Khan criticized the statements and said they were “anti-Islam” and “racist,” and accused Rishi Sunak and senior members of the government of maintaining “resounding silence,” considering that their failure to comment on the issue is an endorsement of racism.

Hours later, the party announced the suspension of Anderson's membership, who will now hold his parliamentary seat as an independent.

He later said yesterday evening that he understood his comments had put Hart and Sunak in a "difficult position".

Without offering an apology, he said, "I fully accept that they had no other choice, but I will continue to support the government's efforts to denounce extremism in all its forms, whether anti-Semitism or anti-Muslims."

Anderson was appointed last year as Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party, before abandoning this position last month to adopt a tougher stance than the government on immigration.

Labor Party leader Keir Starmer criticized Sunak, questioning his "logical sense" in choosing Anderson as deputy leader of the party.

He said: "This is not only embarrassing for the Conservative Party; it encourages the worst forces in our political life. Rishi Sunak must take action against the extremists in his party."

Anderson's statements came after former Interior Minister Sola Braverman announced in an article that "Islamists, extremists and anti-Semites are now in leadership."

This was in response to heated discussions in Parliament regarding a memorandum calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Source: Agencies