UK PM Sunak Denies his Party has ‘Islamophobic Tendencies’ after Anderson Comments
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refuted on Monday the claims of Islamophobic sentiments within his party, citing the suspension of Conservative legislator Lee Anderson for remarks deemed inappropriate.
In widely denounced comments made on Friday, Anderson claimed that London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, was in the hands of Islamists. This led the Conservatives to suspend Khan on Saturday.
When asked if the party had any anti-Islamic sentiments, Sunak told BBC radio: “No, of course it doesn’t.”
“Lee’s comments weren’t acceptable. They were wrong, and that’s why he’s had the whip suspended,” he added.
Khan, who regularly speaks of the importance of fighting antisemitism, misogyny and homophobia, has said he regarded Anderson’s comments as racist and Islamophobic, and that they would “pour fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred”.
A survey conducted from Feb. 16-18 by Savanta showed that 29% of Britons believed the Conservatives had a problem with Islamophobia, the most of any major British political party.
