Lee Anderson newest: What did the Tory MP say to mayor Sadiq Khan as Islamophobic row deepens?

Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds has written to her opposite number demanding answers on why the Conservative Party has “failed to deal with Islamophobia” in its ranks.

It comes after Lee Anderson, the former Tory party chair, said that London mayor Sadiq Khan was controlled by Islamists and had given the capital away to his “mates”.

In a letter to Richard Holden, seen by The Independent, Ms Dodds has called on the Tory chair to give an update on the recommendations made by Professor Sarwan Singh, who conducted an independent investigation into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party in 2021 and last summer criticised the party for a lack of progress, noting that “turmoil” in the party “impacted on the Party’s efforts to implement [the] Recommendations”.

She asks Mr Holden if he agrees with Professor Singh that “turmoil” inside the Conservative Party has hampered efforts to deal with Islamophobia, that progress had been gradual and that mechanisms to cope with complaints about senior Conservatives appeared to be advert hoc, as Professor Singh states. She additionally asks for an replace on suggestions set out by Professor Singh in the One Year Review of his authentic evaluate final summer season, and asks what number of have been accomplished.

Ms Dodds stated: “When it comes to Islamophobia in the Conservative Party, Lee Anderson’s comments are only one part of a very disturbing pattern.

“The Conservative Party’s continued failure to deal with Islamophobia shows the true weakness of Rishi Sunak.

“He promised a government of professionalism, integrity and accountability but has delivered sleaze and scandal, and shown himself to be far too weak to stand up to the those espousing extreme views in his party.”

MPs most in danger from violence and abuse amid the battle in Gaza will probably be given private bodyguards.

The Sun studies that tens of millions of kilos will probably be spent on plans to beef up safety for MPs underneath risk, due to be fleshed out inside days.

Last night time Tom Tugendhat, the safety minister and the Treasury have been finalising the package deal, to be unveiled later this week.

There could be few by-elections in latest reminiscence which have been extra chaotic than Rochdale.

Triggered by the demise of Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd – who had held the constituency since 2017 – voters will go to the polls on Thursday after weeks of the Greater Manchester city hitting the headlines for all the incorrect causes.

Lee Anderson has threatened Rishi Sunak with defection to Reform UK as the row over his “Islamophobic” feedback deepens.

As questions proceed about Mr Anderson’s future in the Tory Party, the defiant Red Wall MP warned Mr Sunak: “I will be standing at the next election.”

The feedback got here in an interview with GB News through which Mr Anderson declined to rule out switching allegiances to the Nigel Farage-founded Reform UK.

In refusing to apologise as we speak for his anti-Muslim rant about Sadiq Khan, which noticed him suspended from the Conservative Party, Lee Anderson reveals little signal of wanting to be cowed – and no need in any respect to be a fading prime minister’s poodle, says Joe Murphy.

Read Joe’s piece in full right here:

Michael Tomlinson stated he thought Suella Braverman had been incorrect to say Islamists have been in command of Britain however added she shouldn’t lose the whip.

Asked about Ms Braverman’s article in the Telegraph final week, the unlawful migration minister stated: “I don’t think Suella was right.

“She’s the former home secretary, she was responding actually to events that had happened in the House of Commons, or at least in part that had happened in the House of Commons last Wednesday when a debate was had in relation to Gaza and in relation to peace in Gaza.”

Asked what the distinction was between her feedback and Lee Anderson’s, Mr Tomlinson stated: “I think one’s more of a personal attack, but if you’re asking me in relation to Suella and her article that was directly in response to that debate that we had in the chamber of the House of Commons last Wednesday, and as I say I think the speaker called that wrong.”

Asked whether or not she ought to have the whip withdrawn, he stated: “No, I think we are blessed to live in the country that we do. We have an open and tolerant society, I think that is one of the joys that makes Britain and our country what it is. That is something that I think we should celebrate as politicians.”