Lee Anderson has rallied Tory MPs in defence of Suella Braverman as a row rages over her bombshell article on the policing of pro-Palestine protesters.
The Home Secretary sparked controversy when she accused the Met Police of bias in a piece which was not signed off by Number 10.
Rishi Sunak faces a dilemma over whether to sack her and risk fuelling a Tory civil war with ministers and MPs on the left of the party demanding she goes.
But Mr Anderson was among Tory MPs defending Mrs Braverman this morning as her future hangs in the balance in a sign that if the Prime Minister removes her he will split the party.
In a Facebook post, the Conservative Party deputy chairman said: “Suella Braverman MP has not called or described Hamas and Hezbollah as friends.
“Not took the knee on Whitehall whilst BLM riot. These were the actions of MPs within the Labour Party, the same party who want her sacked.
“But Suella is guilty. Guilty of saying what most of us are thinking and saying. Thank goodness we have a Home Secretary who refuses to be cancelled.
“She is using everyday language used by everyday people. Labour MPs would know this if they got out more.”
Mr Anderson was echoed by Red Wall colleague Brendan Clarke-Smith, who insisted Mrs Braverman “simply stated the obvious”.
Speaking on GB News, the Bassetlaw MP said: “There’ll be people who don’t like her language that she uses.
“I don’t have a problem that language, it’s the language I use, it’s the language my constituency use and most of the country I think agree with her on this.”
Meanwhile, Miriam Cates, who is co-chair of the right-wing New Conservatives group, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think the Home Secretary has a view that is very mainstream in the rest of the UK.”
In her article for The Times ahead of a pro-Palestine rally in London on Armistice Day, Mrs Braverman said there was a perception that police “play favourites” over protesters.
She also doubled down on her description of the demonstration this Saturday as a “hate” march.
The piece has prompted calls from Labour, the Lib Dems and even some Tory MPs for Mrs Braverman to go.
The Home Secretary’s article reflects her frustration with Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley, who has resisted pressure to ban the protest this Saturday despite fears Remembrance events may be disrupted and violence could break out.
A poll by this website suggests she has the support of Daily Express readers, with 88 percent saying she should not be sacked.
