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Oliver Dowden refuses to reply if Tory social gathering regards Lee Anderson as ‘racist’
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Rishi Sunak has mentioned MP Lee Anderson’s remarks that sparked an Islamophobia row “weren’t acceptable, they were wrong”, as he denied the Conservative Party has Islamophobic tendencies.
The former Tory deputy chair has been suspended from the social gathering after a racist rant on GB News about Sadiq Khan, during which Mr Anderson claimed “Islamists” have “got control” of the mayor of London.
The prime minister insisted to native BBC radio broadcasters on Monday morning that his social gathering “of course” didn’t have Islamophobic tendencies, as transport minister Mark Harper informed Sky News that he wish to see Mr Anderson “be able to contribute to the Conservative Party in the future”.
The PM informed BBC Radio York: “I think it’s incumbent on all of us, especially those elected to Parliament, not to inflame our debates in a way that’s harmful to others. Lee’s comments weren’t acceptable, they were wrong. And that’s why he had the whip suspended.”
Asked whether or not his social gathering has an Islamophobia downside, the prime minister mentioned: “No, of course it doesn’t.”
Minister says he needs Lee Anderson to have future within the Tory social gathering
Transport secretary Mark Harper has mentioned he wish to see Lee Anderson “be able to contribute to the Conservative Party in the future”, as he refused to say whether or not the previous Tory deputy chair’s comments about Sadiq Khan were racist.
“Well it was wrong, and I’m not going to get into arguing about the rights and wrongs of what he said. Wrong is a very strong word in my book,” Mr Harper informed Sky News.
He added: “I’m not going to tell the chief whip how to do his job, that’s for him,” he mentioned. “He’s contributed a lot in the past. I’d like to see him be able to contribute to the Conservative Party in the future.”
Andy Gregory26 February 2024 09:06
Minister denies Tories utilizing Muslims as ‘campaign fodder’
Transport secretary Mark Harper has rejected an accusation by the party’s former co-chair Baroness Warsi that “anti Muslim racism is tolerated within [the Conservative Party and] that Muslims are not just fair game but convenient electoral campaign fodder”.
Mr Harper informed Sky News: “Well I don’t agree with her and the fact that we took such robust action so quickly against what Lee Anderson said I think shows exactly why she’s wrong. The prime minister took swift action to deal with what Lee said. That was the right thing to do. And I think actions speak louder than words.”
Andy Gregory26 February 2024 09:01
Breaking: Sunak says Lee Anderson comments were wrong however denies Conservative social gathering has ‘Islamophobic tendencies’
Rishi Sunak has mentioned offensive comments by former deputy chair Lee Anderson are ‘wrong’ however has denied the Conservative social gathering has “Islamophobic tendencies”.
Mr Anderson has confronted fierce backlash after he mentioned ‘Islamists’ had management of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and was suspended by the social gathering over the weekend.
Our political correspodent Zoe Grunewald has this breaking report, which you’ll be able to refresh for updates:
Andy Gregory26 February 2024 08:52
Good morning, and thanks for becoming a member of us on The Independent’s politics weblog, the place we’ll be bringing you the latest updates because the row over Lee Anderson’s Islamophobic comments continues.
Andy Gregory26 February 2024 08:50
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