Anderson says Tory Party ‘stifles free speech’ as he defects to Reform

Lee Anderson accused the Conservative Party of stifling “free speech” by suspending him amid an Islamophobia row, as he announced his defection to Reform UK.

The Ashfield MP, who lost the Tory whip last month after making widely criticised remarks about Sadiq Khan, said he found it “unpalatable” that he had been disciplined for “speaking my mind”.

In an open attack on the party that had formerly elevated him to deputy chairman, he claimed other Tory MPs share his views but will not stick their heads “above the parapet”.

He announced his switch to the right-wing populist party at a press conference alongside Reform UK leader Richard Tice in London on Monday.

As recently as January, Mr Anderson had branded Mr Tice a “poundshop Nigel Farage” and said Reform was “not a proper political party”.

Asked what has changed, Mr Anderson 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. Like I said in my speech, I’ve had to do a lot of soul-searching about where I am, what I’m doing.

“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.

“I cannot be a part of an organisation which stifles free speech, and many of my colleagues in that place, in the Conservative Party, do back me on this privately.”

Mr Anderson added: “People will say that I’ve took a gamble. And I’m prepared to gamble on myself as I know from my mailbag how many people in this country support Reform UK and what they have to say. And, like millions of people up and down the country, all I want is my country back.”

Mr Tice said he has found a “champion of the red wall for Reform UK” in welcoming Mr Anderson to his party.

“He’s also coincidentally going to be Reform UK’s first Member of Parliament in the House of Commons.”

Welcome to Reform UK, Lee Anderson MP 🇬🇧

The Reform UK MP for Ashfield! ➡️ pic.twitter.com/YHYc4XmoAy

— Reform UK (@reformparty_uk) March 11, 2024

Mr Anderson, a standard bearer for the Tory right, lost the Conservative whip last month after claiming “Islamists” had “got control” of Mr Khan and London.

He initially said he accepted that Rishi Sunak had been left with “no option” but to take action after the comments drew condemnation from across the political divide.

But he insisted losing the whip had not been the reason for his defection, telling reporters: “My parents have been saying to me for weeks now, you cannot win, we can’t vote for you being in the Conservative Party.

“If my parents are saying that, what chance have I got?”

Mr Tice said he “absolutely” stood by the MP’s remarks about the London Mayor and is happy to share a platform with him.

Mr Anderson has served since 2019 as MP for Ashfield, one of the previously Labour seats in the so-called red wall where voters switched to the Tories post-Brexit to give Boris Johnson his landslide victory.

On Monday, he acknowledged that Tory MPs may be hurt by his move but said the feeling is mutual.

“I live in the real world, that’s a place called Ashfield!”

📺👇Lee Anderson MP after joining Reform UK this morning. pic.twitter.com/bBCP1QlflG

— Reform UK (@reformparty_uk) March 11, 2024

He told reporters: “Yes, and I feel a little bit bruised as well because I sit with my colleagues on a daily basis, looking at the opposition benches, and, quite frankly, apart from maybe some of the DUPs, there’s nothing I’ve got in common with anybody over there.

“So I’ve got to go and sit with them, I’ll probably be sat with George Galloway, who I completely oppose. But I respect his right to be there, he was democratically elected.”

Despite promising interviews with broadcasters after his announcement, Mr Anderson spoke to only GB News and the BBC before leaving through a side door at the Westminster venue.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said his former Tory colleague had made a “real mistake”.

“Reform is not the answer,” he added.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News: “This is not just about Lee Anderson. It’s about 14 years of failure.”

He continued: “Another day, another story about Tory division. And, you know, I think the bigger picture here is now you’ve got a Government that is so distracted, it’s divided, it’s arguing amongst itself.

“Meanwhile, there’s no proper governing going on. There are people really struggling, there are schools that need attention. And all we’re getting is more and more division within the Tory Party.”

Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said Mr Anderson’s defection suggested the Prime Minister was “too weak to lead a party too extreme to be led”.

Tory MPs Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger, co-chairs of the New Conservatives faction Mr Anderson had previously supported, said the Ashfield MP’s defection is a source of “regret” and “makes a conservative Britain less likely”.

They said: “But the responsibility for Lee’s defection lies with the Conservative Party. We have failed to hold together the coalition of voters who gave us an 80-seat majority in 2019.”

They added: “Our poll numbers show that the public think of our record since 2019. We cannot pretend any longer that ‘the plan is working’. We need to change course urgently.”

Mr Anderson told GB News, which pays him £100,000 a year for hosting a show, that he had not told Mr Sunak of his decision to switch.

The interview drew the ire of Tory backbencher Jackie Doyle-Price, who tweeted: “Course he didn’t inform the Prime Minister. Big girls blouse.”

A Tory spokesman said: “Lee himself said he fully accepted that the Chief Whip had no option but to suspend the whip in these circumstances. We regret he’s made this decision.

“Voting for Reform can’t deliver anything apart from a Keir Starmer-led Labour government that would take us back to square one – which means higher taxes, higher energy costs, no action on Channel crossings, and uncontrolled immigration.”

Some Tories see Reform UK as a challenger at the general election expected this year, with signs of growing support for the party as it polls at around 10% of national voting intention.

Arch Brexiteer Mr Farage is the honorary president of the party, which is seeking to attract disillusioned Conservative voters mainly over the issue of immigration.

Reform finished in third place in two recent by-elections, although its candidate in the Rochdale contest – former Labour MP Simon Danczuk – had a poor showing.

Mr Tice has ruled out standing aside to avoid splitting the Leave vote in some seats, as the party did under its Brexit Party name in 2019.