"Lee was expressing frustration at how policing of protests is being handled'

RED Wall Tories have rallied round firebrand Lee Anderson, demanding his suspension over an Islamophobia row is lifted.

- Sam Lister

Party whips were "besieged" with support for the former Tory deputy chairman from frustrated MPs.

Mr Anderson admitted that his language had been "clumsy" but refused to apologise for raising an issue he believes in.

Tory MPs believe Mr Anderson must be back in the party before a General Election is called as he is incredibly popular with voters who backed the Tories for the first time in 2019.

Mr Anderson, MP for Ashfield, had the whip withdrawn at the weekend after he refused to apologise for claiming "Islamists" had "got control" of London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Red Wall Tory Lia Nici, MP for Great Grimsby, said: "Lee should absolutely get the Conservative whip back." Marco Longhi, MP for Dudley North, said "of course" Mr Anderson should be brought back.

He added: "Lee was expressing a frustration at how the policing of protests, or even the lack of it, is being handled.

"We see [Keir] Starmer and the Speaker using those very arguments around intimidation and fear to suit their agenda and influence democratic decisions and break conventions. Sadiq Khan is not an Islamist but he is responsible for policing I checked." in London the last time said: "I Jonathan Gullis, Tory MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, hope that we will see him return to that party sooner rather than later but, of course, he has to, I think, make that apology to Mayor Khan.

"I think the point he was making was about Islamist extremism, which sadly does prevail in our community." In a statement yesterday, Mr Anderson doubled down with a fresh attack on Mr Khan.