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Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has revealed his “tipping point” which swayed his decision to defect from the Conservative Party, after joining Richard Tice’s party earlier this week.
Speaking at the Reform press conference, Anderson told GB News he is “doing it for his country” and is planning a “significant campaign” ahead of the next general election.
The move comes as Anderson sparked a racism row between himself and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, after claiming Khan has come “under control of Islamists” and the country has been “given away to his mates”.
Anderson has always refused to apologise for his remarks and as a result had the Tory whip removed, encouraging his swift move to Reform.
Lee Anderson says Jeremy Hunt’s budget was the ‘tipping point’ for his Tory exit
PA / GB News
Discussing his move on GB News, Anderson told Martin Daubney and Political Editor Christopher Hope that he will “not apologise” for his comments and denied he would make a return to the Tories.
Anderson affirmed his stance on moving to Reform to “get his country back” and explained he wants to “not drive down the roads in Ashfield and hit a pothole”, or “have to wait three weeks for a dentist appointment”.
Discussing the latest racism row to hit the Conservatives and Frank Hester’s alleged comments, Anderson urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to “use the same discipline” on Hester and not “move on” from the matter.
Anderson told GB News: “I left the party. I had the whip taken off me. I refused to apologise. I stood on a principle that I would not apologise and go back to the party because, like we see inconsistencies again with this donor, £10million he’s given the party. Fair enough, but you’ve got to be consistent.”
Jeremy Hunt announced plans for a £1million Muslim war memorial in his Spring Budget
PA
He added: “If you’re not consistent, then people don’t trust you.”
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When questioned by Christopher on his reasons for leaving the Conservatives, Anderson admitted there were “a few things added to the pot” which confirmed his decision to go.
Anderson revealed: “I think the Budget last week was a tipping point for me. The opening gambit was we want to spend £1million on this memorial.
“Nothing wrong with having memorials, but they referred to Sajid Javid, the member for Bromsgrove, and he was one of these people that called me out for being a racist, so I was down in the dumps.
“I was stuck with my colleagues on the Conservative benches and had a bit of kicking, a bit of a pasting politically. And then to do that in the opening line of the Budget was like, you’re down there, let’s kick you again.”
Lee Anderson has called on Jeremy Hunt to apologise to him
GB News
Christopher then argued that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Home Secretary James Cleverly had called on Anderson to apologise for his comments, to which he hit back: “They should be apologising to me.
“And they should be apologising to the membership in the Conservative Party and lots of councils up and down the country who are furious about what’s going to happen in the May elections.”
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