Lee Anderson has upped his war of words with Sadiq Khan by accusing the Mayor of London of overseeing "double standards for political benefit" in the way that pro-Palestinian marches are policed in London.
In a statement, Anderson drew attention to a slew of pro-Palestinian marches in London after the Oct 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas. He said: "I made some comments yesterday that some people thought were divisive. Politics is divisive and I am just incredibly frustrated about the abject failures of the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
"Khan called for an immediate ceasefire weeks ago with no conditions while the hostages are still there being held at gunpoint by a terrorist organisation.
"Hundreds of people had been arrested for racist abuse on these marches and we barely hear a peep from the mayor. If these marches were about something less fashionable Sadiq Khan would have been the first to call for them to be cancelled. It's double standards for political benefit."
Lee Anderson has upped his war of words with Sadiq Khan
PA
Speaking to GB News today, Anderson made clear he was not apologising to Khan. He said: "If you are wrong, apologising is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.
"But when you think you are right you should never apologise because to do so would be a sign of weakness."
Anderson's statement was drawn up on Saturday, hours after he claimed that Islamists had "got control" in London and that Khan - who sets policy for the Metropolitan Police - had "given away our capital city to his mates".
However the statement was not released because Anderson refused a request from the Chief Whip Simon Hart to apologise to Khan, a decision which led to his suspension as a Tory MP.
In the statement Anderson referred to the projection of anti-Israel chants on to Parliament's Elizabeth Tower during a debate on ceasefire in Gaza last Wednesday night, he said: "Seeing the words 'From the river to the sea' on Elizabeth Tower made me feel sick to the pit of my stomach."
He added: "Khan has stood by and allowed our police to turn a blind eye to the disgusting scenes around Parliament. It is not my intention to upset anyone, I believe in free speech and have 100 per cent respect for people of all backgrounds.
"The vast majority of Muslims are not Islamists in the same way the vast majority of Christians are not conservatives or socialists.
"The vast majority of our Muslim friends in the UK are decent, hardworking citizens who make an amazing contribution to our society and their religion should not be blamed for the actions of a tiny minority of extremists.
"My words may have been clumsy but my words were borne out of sheer frustration at what is happening to our beautiful capital city.
"We’ve got to get Khan out at the elections in May."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
He added: "Sadiq Khan is failing London across the board. On transport with ULEZ and the strikes which he pledged to end. On knife crime and violence against women and girls. The list is endless.
"He’s more interested in virtue signalling to his trendy lefty mates by renaming train lines and street signs at a cost of millions of pounds rather than in delivering for our capital city which should be the greatest city on earth."
Writing in Monday's Evening Standard, Khan said: " More than two days on from Lee Anderson’s vile racist, anti-Muslim and Islamophobic remarks, we have yet to hear the Prime Minister call it what it is: Islamophobic, anti-Muslim hate and racist.
"Remarkably, Rishi Sunak released a statement yesterday on hatred in politics, but failed to mention anti-Muslim sentiment at all. Then his deputy, Oliver Dowden, repeatedly refused to accept that Anderson’s remarks were racist, anti-Muslim or Islamophobic. This speaks volumes.
It shouldn’t be hard to call out comments that are so unambiguously ignorant, prejudiced and racist. Yet those at the top of the Conservative Government are stubbornly refusing to do so.
"It’s a tacit endorsement of anti-Muslim hatred and can only lead to the conclusion that anti-Muslim bigotry and racism are not taken seriously.
"Racism is racism and should always be called out, whichever minority it is targeted against. There can be no hierarchy."
Khan added: "Campaigning tactics like this by the Conservatives and the far-Right send the damaging message to wider society that Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment are acceptable.
"With tensions running extremely high, political leaders must now take proactive steps towards building stronger and more integrated communities. This means working to calm, not inflame, community tensions and seeking to unite, not divide.
"This is how we can strengthen social ties and bonds of trust between people of all faiths, races and backgrounds."
