Lee Anderson, the former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, has defected to Reform UK.
Mr Anderson was suspended from the Conservative Party after refusing to apologise for comments alleging that Islamists had “got control” of Sadiq Khan and London.
After Rishi Sunak suspended Lee for his comments, a Conservative Post petition was set up to reinstate him and amassed over 5000 signatures within the first 24 hours. The Conservative Post petition now has nearly 25,000 signatures.
The former deputy party chairman, had claimed that London was being “run by Islamists” in the wake of extremism seen on London’s streets.
Despite facing backlash for his remarks, Mr Anderson doubled down on his statements and was subsequently stripped of the Tory whip, a decision which infuriated the grassroots and also shocked many Conservative MPs. One senior Tory MP said: “What on earth is going on in my party? This is madness.”
The former aide to Margaret Thatcher, Nile Gardiner said: “I cannot believe that the party of Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill is suspending the whip from a Conservative MP who is speaking the truth about the massive threat that Islamist ideology poses to Britain.”
Members and the grassroots also took to social media writing they are “disgusted” by Rishi’s decision. One wrote: “Lee is our champion. A man of the people. Rishi suspending him for saying what we all think, is ridiculous. Just look at what is happening every week on London’s streets! Lee is right!” Another added: “I am disgusted with Rishi. We are supposed to be the party of free speech.”
Over recent weeks it was reported Mr Anderson met with Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, sparking speculation about a potential defection. This was confirmed at a Reform UK press conference this morning. Lee Anderson is now Reform UK’s first MP.
At the press conference this morning Mr Anderson said:
“I want my country back. Over the last year or so I’ve had to do a lot of soul-searching on my political journey and I don’t expect much in politics other than to be able to speak my mind and speak on behalf of my friends, family and my constituents.
“Now I might not know a lot of these long words some of these people in Parliament, I know a few short ones, but sometimes this leaves me to be controversial, controversial in my opinions. But my opinions are not controversial, they are opinions that are shared by millions of people up and down the country.”
