Sadiq Khan has hit back at Tory MP Lee Anderson after he accused the London Mayor had let “Islamists” take over London, accusing the Tory MP of “Islamophobia and racism”.
The former Conservative Party deputy chairman caused a stir yesteday when he told GB News Mr Khan had led the capital city be “taken over by his mates”.
Responding, Labour Mayor Mr Khan said: “These comments from a senior Conservative are Islamophobic, are anti-Muslim and are racist.
“We’ve seen over the last two days confirmation that over the last few months there’s been an increase in anti Muslim cases by more than 330 per cent.
“These comments pour fuel on the fire of anti Muslim hatred and I’m afraid the deafening silence from Rishi Sunak and from the cabinet is them condoning this racism.
“And I’m afraid it confirms to many people across the country that there’s a hierarchy when it comes to racism.”
Labour has demanded “serious, concrete action” from the Conservatives to finally root out Islamophobia, following “racist and Islamophobic” comments made by Lee Anderson about Sadiq Khan.
In a letter to Conservative Chairman Richard Holden, Labour Party Chair Anneliese Dodds said that Mr Anderson’s comments are “the tip of iceberg”, and follow a “deeply concerning pattern of Islamophobic comments tolerated and Islamophobia not dealt with” within the party.
She commented: “Lee Anderson’s comments were unambiguously Islamophobic and Rishi Sunak’s failure to suspend the whip or take any other action speaks volumes.
“But Anderson’s comments are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Islamophobia in the Conservative Party. We have seen numerous examples of ignorant and offensive views tolerated and a failure of the party to adopt a definition or even use the term Islamophobia.
“Sunak has a clear choice: show some backbone and withdraw the whip or be forever known the Tory leader who was too weak to stop the far right rhetoric in his own party.”
Express.co.uk has contacted Mr Anderson for comment.
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