Vile Lee stoking fires of hatred
TORY Lee Anderson has had the whip suspended after he refused to apologise for making Islamophobic comments against Sadiq Khan.
But as Anderson broadcast his vile opinions on GB News, Suella Braverman wrote an article for a national newspaper arguing Islamists are in charge of the UK.
This came as Liz Truss addressed a far-right conference in the US saying that a “radical Islamic party” could win the coming by-election in Rochdale.
Braverman, Anderson and Truss are not marginal figures in the Conservative Party and while it’s welcomed that Anderson has been disciplined, it is not enough.
The Tories have a problem – far-right extremism and Islamophobia are flourishing within their ranks and little is being done to stop it.
Sasha Simic, North London
There may be some valid criticism of Sadiq Khan over a variety of issues but to say he is controlled by Islamists at this sensitive time in world politics is inflammatory. Anderson has rightly had the whip suspended for his words, used in response to London demonstrations over Gaza. Demonstrations attended by people from all creeds and cultures on humanitarian grounds. For him to imply otherwise is a dangerous seed to sow. The Government needs to take firm action against him. Diane Silva, Bournemouth
The definition of Islamophobia is a cross party Parliamentary definition that came out of an inquiry chaired by Wes Streeting and former Tory MP Anna Soubry. Open evidence sessions in Parliament and written evidence produced a working definition in a bid to help tackle the issue, while building a common understanding of its cause.
It has the support of academics, hundreds of institutions and organisations and all political parties, bar the Tories in Westminster.
The definition has been adopted by numerous councils and public and private sector organisations and, most importantly, it has the confidence of the communities it seeks to protect. Shame on the Tories for failing to sign up to it.
Geoffrey Brooking, Havant, Hants
Has Britain ever been closer to a right-wing totalitarian state? Right-wing Tories are showing their true colours of intolerance.
I fear for my grandchildren’s futures in a country where rightwing politicians breed hatred towards minorities, blaming them for all our social and economic ills. This government has created divisions in our society. Rishi Sunak is weak and is in danger of being overtaken by ultra right-wing groups hellbent on creating a state where tolerance and the right to peaceful protest don’t exist.
Tony Kennedy
Oldham, Gtr Manchester
It’s not enough that the PM has said Lee Anderson’s comments were “unacceptable and wrong”. He needs to call them out for what they are – Islamophobic and racist.
Anderson and others on the Tory right are stoking the fires of hatred and division in a desperate attempt to win a few votes among bigots.
They won’t win. People have had enough and demand change.
A Spencer, Bromley, South London
Sunak, like so many Tories, still refuses to say Anderson’s remarks were Islamophobic. When will he admit there is a problem within the Tory Party with Islamophobia?
Vincent Hill, Exeter
30p Lee is a loose cannon and there’s no way Sunak can control him. He doesn’t deserve to be an MP. He and his cohorts are dragging British politics into the gutter.