Tory MP tells voters to back Reform so Lee Anderson can return to Westminster

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Rishi Sunak is going through calls to expel a Conservative MP after he urged voters back Nigel Farage’s Reform get together on the subsequent election so Lee Anderson is returned to Westminster.

Nick Fletcher, the MP for Don Valley, stated the previous Tory deputy chairman, who defected after being suspended earlier this 12 months, was his seat’s “greatest champion”.

He added that he hoped locals “appreciate what he has done for his home town and the country at the next election” including “we both need to be back in Westminster”.

The Liberal Democrats condemned what they stated was additional Tory infighting and stated Rishi Sunak had to “find his backbone and kick Nick Fletcher out of the Conservative Party”.

His extraordinary feedback got here after Mr Anderson declared he wouldn’t marketing campaign in some Tory constituencies, together with Mr Fletcher’s, due to his friendships with the sitting MPs.

A collection of shock polls recommend the Tory face a pasting on the election due to be held later this 12 months.

Recent polls have additionally put Reform simply a number of factors behind the Conservatives, amid fears right-wing populist get together may make additional beneficial properties if Mr Farage takes a extra distinguished position.

While the get together is unlikely to win any seats, it may take sufficient votes in sure areas to hand victory to Labour.

Announcing his non-aggression pact, Mr Anerson stated he wouldn’t marketing campaign in opposition to 4 Tory MPs as a result of “friendship means more”.

They embody Ben Bradley, the MP for Mansfield, Brendan Clarke-Smith, who represents Bassetlaw and Marco Longhi, the Dudley North MP.

In a submit he stated: “These people are my friends and the ones that reached out to me last month.

“They will all the time be my buddies and due to this I can’t marketing campaign in opposition to them of their Parliamentary seats.

“Friendship means more to me. Every other seat is fair game.”

A Reform UK spokesperson stated: “Lee Anderson made it clear from the day he joined Reform UK that he would not personally campaign against a handful of his close friends.

“The get together respect this determination and it reveals Lee’s loyalty to his buddies, which fits past politics.

“Reform will be standing in these constituencies and will be fighting the Conservatives across the board in England, Wales and Scotland.

“The Tories have betrayed the nation by failing to management our borders and permitting our public companies to crumble. We will punish them on the basic election.”