Tory MP Lee Anderson did not vote against Rwanda bill because Labour MPs ‘giggled’ at him

Sign up for the View from Westminster e mail for knowledgeable evaluation straight to your inbox

Get our free View from Westminster e mail

Lee Anderson has stated he might not vote against Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill because Labour MPs have been “giggling” at him.

The ex-Tory deputy chairman, who give up on Tuesday with a view to insurgent over the coverage, stated opposition MPs have been “giggling and laughing and taking the mick”, including: “I couldn’t vote no”.

In a rare interview with GB News, the highest Tory stated he had entered the “no” foyer, with a view to reject Mr Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda bill. But after two or three minutes of being mocked, outspoken Mr Anderson walked out and abstained.

He stated: “I was going to vote no. I went into the no lobby to vote no, because I couldn’t see how I could support the bill after backing all the amendments.

“I got into the no lobby and I spent about two or three minutes with a colleague in there. The Labour lot were giggling and laughing and taking the mick and I couldn’t do it: In my heart of hearts, I couldn’t vote no.

“So I walked out and abstained.”

He give up his function as deputy Tory chairman on Tuesday night time alongside Brendan Clarke-Smith, who held the identical put up, saying that he might not “carry on in my role when I fundamentally disagree with the bill”.

“I can’t be in a position to vote for something I don’t believe in,” Mr Anderson stated.

His abstention got here as an anticipated Tory rise up fizzled out, with simply 11 Tory MPs voting against the deportation bill, together with former house secretary Suella Braverman and ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick.

MPs handed the embattled prime minister’s controversial deportation bill by 320 votes to 276, after most Conservative rebels “wimped out” of a threatened revolt.

The PM nonetheless faces a prolonged battle over the laws within the House of Lords and the courts, nonetheless, as the federal government refused to say when flights to the African nation may lastly take off.

A detailed ally of Mr Sunak’s stated it was inevitable that Tory right-wingers would “wimp out” of collaborating in a revolt that might have triggered a common election, during which the celebration can be set to face a thumping from Labour.

Mr Anderson was appointed deputy chairman of the Conservatives in February 2023 in a transfer Mr Sunak hoped would assist the Tories stay related to Red Wall voters who backed the celebration in 2019.

His lack of ability to place up with “giggling” Labour MPs is in distinction along with his personal propensity for making controversial feedback.

The ex-Tory deputy chairman has stated that individuals who use meals banks can’t cook dinner correctly, and earned the nickname “30p Lee” for suggesting individuals could make meals for 30p a day.

And, earlier than coming into the House of Commons, Mr Anderson stated “nuisance tenants” needs to be compelled to stay in tents and decide potatoes.

He not too long ago stated asylum seekers arriving within the UK needs to be despatched to the distant Scottish Orkney Islands – including that they might be “perfect” for individuals fleeing persecution.