Anderson fuels Reform rumours

LEE Anderson fuelled speculation that he could defect to Reform yesterday as he vowed to stand for Parliament again despite his suspension by the Tories.

The former Conservative deputy chairman, below, lost the party whip at the weekend when he refused to apologise for suggesting that Islamists had ‘got control’ of London mayor Sadiq Khan.

Mr Anderson admitted his remarks were ‘clumsy’, but insisted they were ‘not racist’. He said he would ‘never’ apologise to Mr Khan, whom he accused of turning a blind eye to intimidation and abuse on pro-Palestine marches.

Defection rumours intensified last night following claims that Mr Anderson and Reform UK leader Richard Tice held ‘one-toone’ talks on Sunday at a Holiday Inn hotel.

Speaking on Channel 5 News yesterday, Mr Anderson claimed that Mr Khan ‘ almost enjoys’ disruption caused by pro-Palestine demonstrations, adding that it casts the Government ‘in a bad light’.

Asked whether he would back down, Mr Anderson said: ‘Read my lips: I’m not apologising.’

His suspension means he cannot stand as a Conservative candidate at the next election. But, speaking to GB News, Mr Anderson confirmed he plans to stand for Parliament again. He refused to comment on whether he would rule out defecting to Reform UK.

Mr Tice yesterday claimed he had already ‘turned down’ two potential defectors to his party in the last 13 months.

He said a move by Mr Anderson was ‘hypothetical’. However, the Reform leader added that he ‘may have been clumsy in his precise choice of words, but his sentiments are supported by millions of British citizens, including myself’.