Lee Anderson refuses to apologise for Islamist claim about Sadiq Khan

Lee Anderson, a former Tory deputy chairman, has declined to apologize for his controversial remark that suggested London Mayor Sadiq Khan is influenced by Islamists.

His statement prompted the Conservative Party to suspend him, though he defended his choice of words as a reaction to frustrations with Khan's leadership.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned Anderson's words but didn't label them as Islamophobic. In contrast, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticized Sunak for not strongly denouncing Islamophobia.

Khan responded to Anderson's comments in the Evening Standard, accusing Conservative leaders of failing to denounce racist and prejudiced statements. The situation escalated from Anderson's discussion on GB News where he also claimed Khan and Labour leader Starmer were under Islamist control.

Amidst the controversy, Conservative MP Rehman Chishti called for the appointment of an independent advisor on Islamophobia, a position unfilled since June 2022.

The Labour Party has pressed the Conservatives to formally recognize a definition of Islamophobia, but the government prefers the term "anti-Muslim hatred." An internal Conservative Party inquiry in 2019 into discrimination claims within the party concluded there was no institutional racism.

Regarding concerns of "no-go" zones mentioned by Anderson, including areas in London and Birmingham, Tory MP Paul Scully stated that these issues needed addressing but later defended that he was highlighting a "perception" rather than a widespread reality. The prime minister disagreed with Scully's remarks, emphasizing the value of diverse communities in the UK.