Lee Anderson has been suspended from the Conservative Party for an “anti-Muslim” rant about Sadiq Khan on GB News.
In a stunning fall from grace for Mr Anderson, who until last month was the deputy chairman of the party, he will no longer sit as a Tory MP.
It follows a widely criticised interview in which Mr Anderson said “Islamists” have “got control” of Mr Khan.
Asked about the comments, Mr Khan said: “These comments from a senior Conservative are Islamophobic, are anti Muslim and are racist.”
And, piling pressure on Rishi Sunak to suspend Mr Anderson, he said: “Racism is racism, I’m unclear why Rishi Sunak and members of his cabinet aren’t calling this out or condemning this.
“It’s like they’re complicit in this sort of racism. And I think the message it sends is, Muslims are fair game.”
A spokesperson for the party’s chief whip Simon Hart said the decision had been made following the former Tory deputy chairman’s “refusal to apologise” for the remarks made on Friday.
Pressure had been mounting on the prime minister to take action over the comments from the Ashfield MP, with Mr Khan saying the “deafening silence” of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet amounted to condoning racism.
A spokesperson for Mr Hart said: “Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the Chief Whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.”
More follows.
Pressure had been mounting on the prime minister to take action over the comments from the Ashfield MP
