Tory minister says Lee Anderson simply ‘used the wrong words’ as Sunak fails to sentence anti-Muslim rant | EUROtoday

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The deputy prime minister has stated Lee Anderson was suspended for utilizing “the wrong words” in an anti-Muslim rant about Sadiq Khan on GB News – as Rishi Sunak continues to fail to deal with the feedback.

Oliver Dowden stated Mr Anderson was given the prospect to apologise for claiming the London mayor is managed by “Islamists”, however was suspended for refusing to make an apology.

It got here because the prime minister Mr Sunak warned of an “explosion in prejudice and antisemitism” however failed to deal with the Islamophobic rant by the ex-Tory deputy chairman.

Mr Anderson was finally suspended over his feedback and can now sit as an impartial MP.

In an look on GB News, Mr Anderson stated: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is they’ve got control of Khan and they’ve got control of London… He’s actually given our capital city away to his mates.”

Asked whether or not the feedback had been racist, Mr Dowden informed Sky News: “The words that he chose to use were not the right words to use, they were the wrong words and words do matter.

“And he was given that opportunity to apologise and he didn’t.”

Pressed once more by the BBC, Mr Dowden stated: “I don’t believe that Lee Anderson said those remarks intending to be Islamophobic.”

In an announcement on Saturday night time, Mr Sunak highlighted occasions “of recent weeks”, together with pro-Palestinian protests throughout the nation within the wake of Hamas’ 7 October terror assaults on Israel.

“The events of recent weeks are but the latest in an emerging pattern which should not be tolerated,” Mr Sunak stated. But Mr Sunak has not but responded to Mr Anderson’s feedback.

In an announcement after Mr Anderson’s suspension, the PM stated legit protests have been “hijacked by extremists” and politicians have been “verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted”.

Sir Keir Starmer stated it was proper that Mr Anderson was suspended from the get together over the “appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst”. The Labour chief additionally challenged Mr Sunak over wider Islamophobia within the Conservative Party.

“What does it say about the Prime Minister’s judgment that he made Lee Anderson deputy chairman of his party?” Sir Keir stated.

He added: “Whether it is Liz Truss staying silent on Tommy Robinson or Suella Braverman’s extreme rhetoric, Rishi Sunak’s weakness means Tory MPs can act with impunity.

“This isn’t just embarrassing for the Conservative Party, it emboldens the worst forces in our politics. Rishi Sunak needs to get a grip and take on the extremists in his party.

“The Tories may be getting more and more desperate as the election approaches, but Rishi Sunak has a responsibility to stop this slide into ever more toxic rhetoric.”

It came as Mr Khan condemned the “moral rot” of anti-Muslim hatred within the Conservative Party. The London mayor stated Mr Anderson’s “belated” suspension confirmed that “Muslims are fair game as far as the Conservative Party is concerned”.