Lee Anderson’s history of controversial comments from food banks to nurses

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Tory MP Lee Anderson has by no means been backward about coming ahead along with his views, a number of of which have sparked outrage amongst opposition politicians, campaigners and even his fellow Conservatives.

Mr Anderson was thrust into the highlight when he was appointed deputy chairman of the Tory Party on Tuesday – simply weeks after reportedly evaluating the federal government to the band on the sinking Titanic.

And it hasn’t taken him lengthy to generate just a few extra headlines: in an interview with The Spectator journal revealed on Wednesday, the outspoken MP referred to as for the return of the demise penalty.

His reasoning? Reintroducing capital punishment can be extremely efficient as a result of “nobody has ever committed a crime after being executed”.

Rishi Sunak shortly distanced himself from the comments, with a Downing Street spokesperson fast to remind journalists and the general public that Mr Anderson, whereas deputy chairman, was not really a member of the federal government.

Here we check out some of the Red Wall MP’s earlier remarks and controversies.

Sharing staffer’s wage in food financial institution row

Mr Anderson – voted Conservative MPs’ favorite backbencher – has continuously questioned how many individuals genuinely want to use food banks.

In January, to illustrate his level, he tweeted an image of a member of his workers with particulars of her earnings and outgoings. The Ashfield MP claimed she was an instance of somebody incomes lower than £30,000 however didn’t want to use a food financial institution.

But the transfer was closely criticised, and Mr Anderson was accused of “a form of bullying” by Labour MP Dawn Butler, who stated she had reported him to the Commons authorities.

People who use food banks ‘cannot cook properly’

Mr Anderson’s emotions on food banks first made headlines final May, when he invited fellow MPs to go to a food financial institution in his constituency to witness a “brilliant scheme” – whereby these in receipt of food parcels are pressured to “register for a budgeting and cooking course”.

“We show them how to cook cheap and nutritious meals on a budget – we can make a meal for about 30p a day – and this is cooking from scratch,” stated the Nottinghamshire MP. “I think you’ll see first-hand there’s not this massive use for food banks in this country.

“We’ve got generation after generation who cannot cook properly, they can’t cook a meal from scratch, they cannot budget.”

According to the Trussell Trust, the biggest community of food financial institution suppliers within the UK, the principle drivers of food financial institution use are issues with the advantages system, difficult life experiences, ill-health, or lack of casual or formal assist.

Its head of coverage, Sumi Rabindrakumar, instructed The Independent on the time: “Food bank need in the UK is about lack of income, not food. Cooking from scratch won’t help families keep the lights on or put food on the table, if they don’t have enough money in their pockets.”

Nurses utilizing food banks have ‘something wrong with their finances’

The Tory MP has continued to solid doubts over the need of food banks for a lot of customers – regardless of hovering demand – insisting that putting nurses didn’t want handouts.

“Anybody earning 30-odd grand a year – which most nurses are – using food banks, then they’ve got something wrong with their own finances,” he instructed Times Radio in December.

Royal College of Nursing general-secretary Pat Cullen responded that “to criticise anybody using a food bank is disgusting, heartless and dangerously out of touch”, including that she has “met nursing staff from every corner of the nation – and their fear and fright about not being able to meet their bills is palpable”.

Challenging Brexit critic to a struggle

Mr Anderson additionally raised eyebrows final 12 months when he described an anti-Brexit protester as “a parasite”.

In a verbal altercation with activist Steve Bray – who in return manufacturers him “30p Lee, in a nod to the MP’s claims about cooking and budgeting – Mr Anderson said: “You’re nothing but a parasite. We’ve established that. You’re a scrounger. Why are you here dressed like a tramp?”

Mr Bray instructed The Independent after the encounter: “Lee Anderson is very derogatory about those less fortunate in life, the fact he tries to imply I am a tramp and on benefits is insulting those people that actually are.”

The Conservative MP tried to settle his feud with the “Stop Brexit” man within the boxing ring – after briefly stealing his “Not My Brexit” hat throughout a row outdoors parliament final week and repeating his “parasite” slur.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Anderson stated: “He is a nuisance. And I’ve got a challenge for him: Meet me in the boxing ring. Let’s do three rounds.

“If I win, he never protests out there again. And if he wins, I’ll go and protest with him.”

Mr Bray instructed the paper he would take into account it, saying: “I will think about it. I might have to get into a bit of shape first.”

‘Make nuisance tenants live in tents and pick potatoes’

Before even getting into the House of Commons, Mr Anderson sparked anger by posting a video on Facebook arguing throughout his election marketing campaign that “nuisance tenants” needs to be pressured to stay in tents and decide potatoes.

Speaking straight to the digital camera, he stated: “My plan would be … let’s have them in a tent in the middle of a field, six o’clock every morning let’s have them up, let’s have them in the field picking potatoes or any current seasonal vegetables, back in the tent, cold shower, lights out, six o’clock, same again the next day. That would be my solution.”

Rival events in contrast the thought to “forced labour camps,” accusing Mr Anderson of “entrenching division”.

‘Make out you know who I am’

Part of Mr Anderson’s position as deputy chairman will likely be to exit on the airwaves to voice assist for the federal government’s agenda, notably within the run-up to elections, together with the upcoming native contests in May.

Just hours after his Spectator interview was revealed Mr Anderson had a heated conflict with a BBC journalist who tackled him about video and audio clips exhibiting him establishing a doorstep counter throughout the 2019 election marketing campaign.

Mr Anderson forgot he was carrying a microphone as he obtained one of his associates to pose as an anti-Labour swing voter, in a bid to impress a journalist with the pretend encounter.

“Make out you know who I am… you know I’m the candidate, but not a friend, alright?” Mr Anderson was recorded telling his good friend minutes earlier than bringing a journalist to his door.

Once they arrived, the supposed swing voter then instructed the Tory candidate: “There’s no way Labour are ever going to get my vote again”, earlier than heartily endorsing Mr Anderson’s ‘tenants in tents’ coverage.