The United Kingdom has been plunged into a political turmoil as Conservative MP Lee Anderson made Islamophobic comments about Mayor Sadiq Khan. Anderson refused to apologize for his remarks and was subsequently suspended from the party. Anderson had claimed that Islamists had “got control” of Khan and “given our capital city away to his mates.” London’s mayor called Anderson’s comments “Islamophobic, anti-Muslim and racist”, criticising the prime minister and his Cabinet for their “deafening silence” over the offensive remarks.
Politicians have warned against the dangers of polarisation and hatred in politics in the wake of Anderson’s comments. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for an end to the “explosion in prejudice and antisemitism” that has taken place since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October. Sunak has highlighted how elected representatives are being “verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted” and that “this sort of intimidation works.” Sunak’s statements have referred to concerns regarding MP safety, particularly since a row over a vote by MPs on a ceasefire in Gaza and, more recently, over a controversial handling of a debate on Gaza by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle.
Removal of the whip means that Anderson has been suspended from his party in Parliament and can no longer sit as a Conservative MP, as he was criticised by both the Labour and the Tory party for his comments. Last January, Anderson served as one of the deputy chairmen of the Conservative Party but resigned so he could rebel against the government over the Rwanda vote. In response to Anderson’s suspension, London’s mayor called the Conservative Party’s decision as “belated” and placed pressure on the prime minister by saying his silence on the matter was “tacit endorsement.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer questioned Sunak’s judgement in appointing Anderson to the role. Starmer called Sunak to “take on the extremists in his party” and stop the way this occurs through “ever more toxic rhetoric.” Sunak responded by referring to legitimate protests that have been “hijacked by extremists,” calling for an end to the pattern of explosions in prejudice and antisemitism. The events of recent weeks, according to Sunak, are a warning and should not be tolerated
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