Lee Anderson accuses Sadiq Khan of ‘enjoying the race card’ – and insists he isn’t racist | Politics Information

Lee Anderson has accused Sadiq Khan of “enjoying the race card” as he denied being racist following a row that resulted in his suspension as a Tory MP.

Mr Anderson used a column within the Day by day Categorical to hit again at accusations of Islamophobia and racism following his feedback about London’s mayor.

The Ashfield MP, a former deputy Conservative celebration chairman, mentioned in an interview with GB Information that he believed “Islamists” had taken over management of London and Mr Khan.

He was suspended by Rishi Sunak after he refused to apologise for the feedback, which had been branded “divisive” and “harmful”.

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Within the newspaper, Mr Anderson accused the mayor – together with the Labour Get together and the media – of accusing him of racism for “political benefit”.

He wrote: “Sadly, Sadiq Khan has resorted to enjoying the race card and accused me of stoking up division.”

Mr Anderson went on to assert that Mr Khan had not condemned “surprising scenes” that noticed “vile slogans” projected onto Massive Ben.

He wrote: “The mayor of London needs to be ensuring that our streets are secure and individuals are not residing in concern.

“He’s doing neither and has used my feedback as a distraction to cowl up his personal failings.

“I don’t consider the mayor is an Islamist, I simply assume he doesn’t care about our lovely metropolis and folks in excessive locations ought to have extra sense than to make these outrageous claims that I’m racist or Islamophobic.”

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Downing Road mentioned yesterday that Rishi Sunak didn’t consider Mr Anderson to be racist however mentioned “the language he used was mistaken and it is unacceptable clearly to conflate all Muslims with Islamist extremism or the intense ideology of Islamism”.

The spokesperson additionally mentioned ministers had not been instructed to not use the time period “Islamophobia”, saying the phrases “conflates race with faith, doesn’t deal with sectarianism inside Islam and will inadvertently undermine freedom of speech”.

“Anti-Muslim hatred is the extra exact time period which higher displays UK hate crime laws,” they added.

A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan declined to remark.