Lib Dems table motion calling on Parliament to rebuke Lee Anderson’s Islamophobic comments

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have tabled a censure motion, calling on Parliament to rebuke Lee Anderson’s Islamophobic remarks and calling for him to come to the House and apologise.

The party is calling on Conservative MPs and the government to back the motion, adding that the Conservative party must “show that Islamophobia is not tolerated in Parliament”.

It comes as Anderson said that he would not apologise for his Islamophobic remarks as to do so would be “a sign of weakness”.  

The motion tabled by the Lib Dems, if adopted by the government and passed by the House, would be an unprecedented rebuke of the Ashfield MP’s remarks. It would show that Parliament found the remarks unacceptable and Islamophobic and that Anderson should apologise in the House.

Liberal Democrat Women and Equalities spokesperson, Christine Jardine MP said:

“Lee Anderson’s remarks were damaging, divisive and need to be called out for what they are - Islamophobic. He should apologise immediately.

“British Muslims across the country deserve so much better than this. There is no place in our society for hatred like this. 

"If the government is too weak to call out this behaviour, the House - including Conservative MPs - must take matters into its own hands and show that Islamophobia is not tolerated in Parliament. Not go completely silent on the issue or look for a way to excuse the inexcusable. 

“This latest scandal proves once again that the Conservative party is not fit for purpose and is certainly not fit for office.” 

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Early Day Motion can be found here.

The text of the Liberal Democrat Early Day Motion is as follows:

Conduct of the hon. Member for Ashfield

That this House censures the hon. Member for Ashfield for his comments on 23 February 2024 regarding the Mayor of London, which were Islamophobic, damaging, divisive and risk bringing the House collectively into disrepute; and calls on the hon. Member for Ashfield to come to the House and apologise for these remarks.