Devendra Kumar
Conservative lawmakers Liz Truss and Lee Anderson are under fire after making divisive remarks in recent media appearances. Labour is demanding swift action against the pair, citing their comments as “egregious” and requiring immediate attention. Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth stated that the remarks cannot go unchecked or unchallenged, as they are causing anger among Tory ranks and damaging democracy, institutions, and social cohesion.
Truss’s comments at the Conservative Political Action Conference in the US were particularly contentious, as she claimed that her efforts to cut taxes were sabotaged by the “administrative state and the deep state”. She also failed to intervene when Steve Bannon, her interviewer, hailed far-right figure Tommy Robinson a “hero”, which was criticized by senior Tory MP Sir Sajid Javid. Anderson’s appearance on GB News was also met with criticism, as he suggested that London mayor Sadiq Khan had “given our capital away” to “Islamists”, which was branded “ridiculous” by former chancellor Sajid Javid and “appalling racism and Islamophobia” by Labour.
Ashworth has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to “show some leadership” and take action over the remarks, warning that a failure to do so would allow the “divisive, deluded and dangerous views of the far-right into mainstream British politics”. Truss’s comments also included a claim that Conservatives are “now operating in what is a hostile environment” and that “left-wing elites” will be “aided and abetted by our enemies in China, Iran and Russia”. She also expressed her willingness to work with Nigel Farage to change the Conservative Party and suggested that Bannon could “come over to Britain and sort out Britain”.
In a letter to the prime minister, Ashworth emphasized that for a senior politician to engage in spreading such blatant conspiracy theories is “incredibly damaging to our democracy, our institutions and social cohesion”. He added that for a former prime minister to make such remarks, while on an international visit to a country that upholds liberal values, is an “unforgivable lowering of the office of prime minister which lessens the United Kingdom’s standing in the world and needs to be acted upon”. Ashworth concluded that it is time for Sunak to “show some leadership and take on the extremists in your party. Liz Truss and Lee Anderson must no longer sit as Conservative MPs. Their words cannot go unchecked or unchallenged”.