Sadiq Khan hits out at Lee Anderson comments ‘adding fuel to fire’

Sadiq Khan hits out at Lee Anderson comments ‘adding fuel to fire’

Sadiq Khan condemns Sunak’s 'deafening silence' after Lee Anderson’s 'Islamophobic, racist and anti-Islam' comments

GB News
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 24/02/2024

- 13:36

Updated: 24/02/2024

- 14:34

Some Tory MPs have defended the Ashfield MP

Sadiq Khan has issued a statement in response to Lee Anderson's comments that "Islamists" have "got control of London".

In response, the mayor of London has accused the ex-deputy Tory party chair of making "Islamophobic, racist and anti-Islam" remarks.


Khan continued saying Anderson's comments "add fuel to fire".

Speaking on GB News, Anderson previously 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."

Sadiq Khan with inset of Lee AndersonSadiq Khan has issued an statement in response to Lee Anderson's comments that 'Islamists' have 'got control of London'GB News/ PA

Responding, Khan said: "These comments from a senior Conservative are Islamophobic, are anti-Muslim and are racist.

"We've seen over the last two days confirmation that over the last few months there's been an increase in anti Muslim cases by more than 330 per cent.

"These comments pour fuel on the fire of anti Muslim hatred and I'm afraid the deafening silence from Rishi Sunak and from the cabinet is them condoning this racism.

"And I'm afraid it confirms to many people across the country that there's a hierarchy when it comes to racism."

Anderson's comments come in response 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.

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Some Tory MPs have defended Anderson, including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

Speaking on GB News, he said: "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."

Khan added: "I think it's really important to call out anti-Semitism, it's really important to call out misogyny, it's really important to call out homophobia, but surely it must also be important to call out anti Muslim hatred.

"And I tell you this, my concern is there'll be people across the country, people who are Muslim or look like Muslims, who'll be really concerned about entering into politics because they know if these are the sorts of comments that are said against me by a senior Conservative, what chance do they have?"

Sadiq Khan

Sadiq Khan said Lee Anderson's comments "add fuel to fire"

PA

Labour has now demanded "serious, concrete action" from the Conservatives.

In a letter to Conservative Chairman Ric Holden, Labour Party Chair Anneliese Dodds, said that Anderson’s comments are "the tip of iceberg", and follow a "deeply concerning pattern of Islamophobic comments tolerated and Islamophobia not dealt with" within the party.

Dodds said: “Lee Anderson’s comments were unambiguously Islamophobic and Rishi Sunak’s failure to suspend the whip or take any other action speaks volumes.

"But Anderson’s comments are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Islamophobia in the Conservative Party. We have seen numerous examples of ignorant and offensive views tolerated and a failure of the party to adopt a definition or even use the term Islamophobia.

"Sunak has a clear choice: show some backbone and withdraw the whip or be forever known the Tory leader who was too weak to stop the far right rhetoric in his own party."

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