Oliver Dowden has suggested that Lee Anderson used inappropriate language in an anti-Muslim tirade about Sadiq Khan, but has declined to comment on whether the Conservative Party considers him to be “racist.”
The deputy prime minister stated that Mr. Anderson was given the opportunity to apologize for his comments accusing the London mayor of being controlled by “Islamists” and would have retained the Tory whip if he had apologized, but he was ultimately suspended for refusing to do so.
“Words are important and he had the chance to apologize, but he chose not to,” Mr. Dowden said of the MP, avoiding the question of whether the party views him as racist.
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