Andrew Neil has warned of a “dangerous vacuum” developing in UK politics.
The veteran broadcaster said the UK is in a “morass” and “desperate for strong leadership and guidance”.
He said the public has “lost faith” in institutions like the police, while there is “despair” at Westminster over its priorities such as the “obsession” with Lee Anderson who is at the centre of an Islamophobia row.
But Mr Neil said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are “incapable of speaking up for the moderate majority”.
In a post on social media platform X, Mr Neil said: “The UK is drifting, unhappy, losing faith in previously respected institutions (like the police), buffeted by extremists (often allowed to run amok), dismayed by decline, angry at the inability of the political class to do anything about it, despairing that the Westminster politico/media bubble pursues an agenda, issues and priorities (look at the obsession with Lee Anderson) which are not most people’s — and had enough of being lectured to by a disconnected, de haut en bas chattering class.
“Yet we have a Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition incapable of speaking up for the moderate majority, who still have pride in their country and are desperate for strong leadership and guidance through the current morass — plus some hope/sign things will get better — all within the bounds of traditional British tolerance and fair play. This vacuum is dangerous.”
Mr Neil’s intervention comes as a row is raging over Mr Anderson following comments made about Sadiq Khan.
The Ashfield MP lost the Tory whip after refusing to apologise over claims “Islamists” and “got control” of the Mayor of London.
Senior Conservatives are coming under mounting pressure to brand his remarks “Islamophobic”.
The Prime Minister has condemned Mr Anderson’s comments but would not go as far as to use the term.
Sir Keir said the Tory leader “lacks the backbone to call this out for what it is”.
Mr Anderson admitted his language may have been “clumsy” but insisted Mr Khan is “definitely not in control of the streets of London” amid pro-Palestine protests.
He vowed that he will not apologise to the London Mayor “while I’ve got breath in my body”.
