'Borne out of frustration!' Tory MPs speak out as Lee Anderson and Liz Truss face backlash for comments

'Borne out of frustration!' Tory MPs speak out as Lee Anderson and Liz Truss face backlash for comments

WATCH: Liz Truss speaks with Nigel Farage at the CPAC

GB News
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 24/02/2024

- 10:22

Updated: 24/02/2024

- 10:53

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has defended Lee Anderson over his comments

Conservative MPs have spoken out after Lee Anderson claimed London has been "taken over" with weekly pro-Palestinian protests.

It comes as Liz Truss also faces backlash for "spreading conspiracy theories" about the "deep state" ousting her from power following an appearance alongside US commentator Steve Bannon.


Anderson was responding to an article by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who wrote "the Islamists, the extremists and the anti-Semites are in charge" of the country.

It comes after a vote on a Labour amendment calling for a ceasefire was given the green light.

Conservative MPs have spoken out after Lee Anderson claimed London has been 'taken over' with weekly pro-Palestinian protestsGetty

Speaking on GB News, Anderson said: "I don’t actually believe that these Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is that they’ve got control of Khan, they’ve got control of London."

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has defended the former deputy chair of the Conservative party.

He told GB News: "I wouldn't use that kind of language but I think this was probably borne out of frustration that we've seen now months of protests in London and all too often, as we've seen this week where racist words were projected onto the side of Parliament.

"So there is sense that these things just aren't being gripped to the extent they should do in London, but no I wouldn't use those words."

In response to his comments, a Tory source also said: "Lee was simply making the point that the mayor, in his capacity as PCC [police crime commissioner] for London, has abjectly failed to get a grip on the appalling examples of extremism we have seen in London recently."

Home Secretary James Cleverly has rejected Braverman's claims but said he "can understand her frustration".

The Tory Party also face pressure to take action against Liz Truss as Rishi Sunak is urged to "stand up" against the former Prime Minister.

Truss claimed in her speech that Conservatives are “now operating in what is a hostile environment” and that “left-wing elites” will be “aided and abetted by our enemies in China, Iran and Russia”.

Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak has been urged to 'stand up' against former Prime Minister, Liz Truss

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Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general said: "After crashing the economy and sending mortgages rocketing, Liz Truss is now spreading conspiracy theories with Steve Bannon and spearheading a wacky fringe group to take over the Tory party again.

"If Rishi Sunak had any backbone he would stand up and take action against her and Tory MPs indulging this sort of damaging nonsense.

"While Rishi’s recession bites across Britain, it’s clear that the biggest danger to family finances is the Conservative party. Only Labour has a plan to bring security back to family finances."

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