The six weirdest moments of Lee Anderson’s press conference as he defects to Reform UK

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Lee Anderson, the previous Tory chairman who was suspended by the Conservative get together for Islamophobic remarks, has discovered a brand new political dwelling with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK get together.

Dubbed “three party Lee” for his journey from Labour councillor to Conservative MP and now to Reform UK, Mr Anderson’s swap marks a big second for Reform as he turns into the primary sitting MP to be a part of their get together.

But, identified for his blunt and typically hostile model, the Ashfield MP’s press conference and Q&A session was not with out its share of odd and awkward moments.

Here are some of the strangest moments from that press conference:

1) Claiming his dad and mom ‘could not vote for me’ if he stayed within the Tory get together

Annoucing his resolution to defect to the right-wing challenger get together, the 57-year previous MP mentioned his mum and pa had instructed him they’d not vote for him except he switched to Reform.

Mr Anderson instructed the press conference: “All I want is my country back. Now this may sound offensive to the liberal elite, but it’s not offensive to my friends or family, my constituents and some of my donors.

“Constituents like my mom and dad, who told me they could not vote for me unless I joined Reform UK.

He added: “My parents are both nearly 80 and they get it and I must not let them down. As I said at the beginning, I want my country back.”

2) Clashing with Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby

Mr Anderson’s first spiky second was with Sky News’ Beth Rigby who requested the MP whether or not his defection was “attention-seeking” and what he would say to former Conservative colleagues who had beforehand backed him.

Ms Rigby requested: “What do you say to people that say the problem isn’t all these parties, the problem is you and this is all about attention seeking, and this has been very disloyal to Rishi Sunak who made you deputy party chairman and also to other colleagues that have backed you very firmly recent weeks … What’s your answer to them?”

Mr Anderson’s curtly responded: “Country, constituency and then party. Next question please.”

The political editor identified that Mr Anderson hadn’t answered her query, however the brand new Reform MP insisted on transferring on.

The two spoke over one another as Ms Rigby requested:“What’s your message to Mr Sunak then? He hasn’t answered my question”.

Anderson proceeded to ignore Ms Rigby and chosen a brand new query from one other journalist.

3) Making a dig on the Sun’s political editor Harry Cole

Ms Rigby was not the one journalist on the recieving finish of Mr Anderson’s ire, as he described The Sun’s political editor Harry Cole as a “pound shop” model on the Mail on Sunday’s political editor.

The remark got here as Mr Cole identified that Mr Anderson had beforehand described Reform UK’s chief Richard Tice as a “pound shop Nigel Farage”.

“Just a few weeks ago, you described Mr Tice as a pound shop Nigel Farage and Reform’s answer to Dianne Abbot. What made you change your mind?” the journalist requested.

Mr Tice – who accompanied Mr Anderson on stage – laughed and mentioned that “millions of British people” endorse the “concerns and sentiments” that the Ashfield MP has shared about Brits streets being taken over by “pro-Hamas extremists”.

“That’s the concerns that people want to hear about,” he mentioned.

Mr Anderson then added: “Also on that point, somebody described you as a pound-shop Glen Owen.”

4) Asking ‘who’s laughing?’ whereas delivering his speech

Despite Mr Anderson’s greatest makes an attempt to appear calm and picked up, the previous Conservative get together deputy chairman appeared visibly irritated when he first took to the rostrum.

During his opening remarks, Mr Anderson interrupted himself to ask “who’s laughing?” on the crowd of journalists.

As he continued, Mr Anderson then accused The Sun’s Mr Cole of laughing at him.

He requested: “Is that you, Harry, laughing?”

5) Wishing his mum a ‘happy Mother’s Day’

The MP for Ashfield wished his mum a “happy Mother’s Day” after he was requested if he had simply “made it harder” for former Conservative colleagues to dangle on to their seats.

Asked by political editor for 5 News Andy Bell if he had “helped Keir Starmer win the next election”, Mr Anderson replied: “I have to live with my conscience. My conscience is clear.

“When I got to see my parents yesterday on Mother’s Day – Happy Mother’s Day, mother – and they say to me ‘you need to join Reform, this country needs saving. We’re absolutely fed up of what’s happening on the streets of London, we’re fed up of what’s happening up and down the country. We’re just fed up, we need change’.

“When my parents are saying that then I personally sleep well”.

6) Suggesting politicians are ‘as untrustworthy’ as journalists

When requested by a Telegraph journalist about his earlier assertion that there was “no conceivable world” through which he would be a part of Reform UK and – in his phrases – “knife the Tories in the back”, Mr Anderson insisted that there had been “no turning point” however that “sometimes” politicians are “as trustworthy as journalists in what they say and do.”

The former Conservative Party deputy chairman went on to say there had in actual fact been “several tipping points” that led to his resolution to defect to the get together and that he had carried out “a lot of soul-searching” to come to the choice.

He mentioned: “It’s been a gradual journey, and I think there’s been several tipping points over the past few months.

“Like I said in my speech, I’ve had to do a lot of soul searching about you know, where I am, what I’m what I’m doing, and when I find myself suspended, having the whip suspended for speaking my mind – and by the way, speaking up on behalf of millions of people up and down the country who agree with me – that for me is is unpalatable”.