- Written by Thomas Mackintosh
- bbc news
image source, Getty Images
Lee Anderson told GB News that Islamists had “taken control” of Mr Khan and that he had “ceded our capital to their allies”.
Former Conservative Party vice-chairman Lee Anderson has been suspended from the party after he “refused to apologize” for comments he made towards Sadiq Khan.
Conservative MP Ashfield told GB News on Friday: “Islamists have taken over the mayor of London.”
Mr Khan responded on Saturday, saying the comments “added fuel to the fire of anti-Muslim hatred”.
Losing the Conservative Party whip would effectively mean that Mr Anderson would be expelled from the party in parliament.
Just over an hour after Mr Khan’s criticism, a spokesperson for Conservative Party leader Simon Hart said: “Following his refusal to apologize for yesterday’s comments, the leader has announced that the Tory whip will be enforced on Lee Anderson MP. It has stopped.”
Speaking to GB News, Mr Anderson said: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists control our country, but what I do believe is that they control Khan, they control London… He actually is given to ‘our capital far away to his companions. ”
Pressure then mounted on Rishi Sunak to take action on Ashfield MP’s comments after Mr Khan criticized the “deafening silence” of the Prime Minister and his cabinet.
WATCH: Sadiq Khan says Lee Anderson’s comments are ‘Islamophobic, anti-Muslim and racist’
On Saturday afternoon, Mr Khan responded to Mr Anderson’s comments which he called “Islamophobic, anti-Muslim and racist”.
“These comments add fuel to the fire of anti-Muslim hatred,” Khan said.
The Mayor of London added that it is unclear why “Rishi Sunak and his ministers” have not “condemned or condemned this comment”.
Mr Anderson’s comments prompted criticism from some Conservatives, including former prime minister Sir Sajid Javid, who reposted a video of Mr Anderson making the comments and wrote: “This is ridiculous.” It will be done.
The Islamic Council of Britain (MCB) said it welcomed Mr Anderson’s suspension, but insisted it had only been suspended “after widespread hatred”.
An MCB spokesperson said: “The Conservative Party has a problem with Islamophobia. They need to admit it.”