The news was announced by Reform leader Richard Tice in what was billed as a “major” announcement by the party…reports Asian Lite News
Lee Anderson has joined Nigel Farage ‘s Reform UK with a furious attack on the Conservative Party after he was suspended by the Tories for making Islamophobic remarks about London mayor Sadiq Khan.
The former Tory deputy chairman said he had done “a lot of soul searching” but had decided to join Reform in a bid to take “my country back”.
Anderson, the MP for Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, accused the Conservative Party of stifling “free speech” and said he found it “unpalatable” that he had been disciplined for “speaking my mind”.
In a speech, he said his parents, who live in his constituency, had told him they could not vote for him at this year’s election if he did not defect to Reform. He said: “All I want is my country back. Now this may sound offensive to the liberal elite. But it’s not offensive to my friends or family, my constituents and some of my constituents like my mum and dad, who told me they could not vote for me unless I joined Reform UK. My parents are both nearly 80 and they get it, and I must not let them down.”
The news was announced by Reform leader Richard Tice in what was billed as a “major” announcement by the party.
Tice, who said he expected “more [defections] to follow”, welcomed Mr Anderson as a “champion” of the Red Wall who “is trusted by voters to tell it as it is”. As recently as January, Mr Anderson branded Mr Tice a “poundshop Nigel Farage” and said Reform was “not a proper political party”.
Asked what has changed, the MP said: “There’s not been a turning point. We all know that sometimes politicians are about as trustworthy as journalists in what they say and do.
“But it’s been a gradual journey, and I think there’s been several tipping points over the past few months. And when I find myself suspended for speaking my mind – and, by the way, speaking up on behalf of millions of people up and down the country who agree with me – that for me is unpalatable. It’s a shocker, if I’m honest.”
Mr Anderson will stand at the next general election for Reform, which was formerly known as Brexit Party and set up by Mr Farage.
The move will pile fresh pressure on Rishi Sunak, with the Tories at risk of losing tens of seats at the next election if the insurgent populist party splits the right-wing vote.
<p>Rishi Sunak faces a mounting headache as Reform UK continues to make gains on the Tories in the polls </p>
Rishi Sunak faces a mounting headache as Reform UK continues to make gains on the Tories in the polls (PA Wire)
Mr Anderson is also hugely popular with the Tory grassroots and was given a standing ovation at a Conservative fundraiser even after his suspension.
He was suspended by the Conservative Party last month after claiming “Islamists” had “got control” of Mr Khan and London. It means he now sits as an independent MP.
Mr Sunak and a series of ministers refused to say his comments were racist, but suspended him for refusing to apologise for the remarks.
In an appearance on GB News, Mr Anderson doubled down on his remarks and said: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is they’ve got control of Khan and they’ve got control of London… He’s actually given our capital city away to his mates.”
Sir Keir Starmer said it was right that Mr Anderson was suspended from the party over the “appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst”. The Labour leader also challenged Mr Sunak over wider Islamophobia in the Conservative Party. Speculation Mr Anderson was to join Reform mounted immediately after his suspension.