Lee Anderson: Ex-Tory MP defects to Reform UK

Lee Anderson, the former Tory Party deputy chairman, has defected to Reform UK.

Anderson was suspended as a Conservative MP after he refused to apologise for claims that Islamists had “control” of London Mayor Sadiq Khan. 

His defection ends weeks of speculation over his future. 

He said he had been given the chance to “speak out in Parliament on behalf of millions of people up and down the country” who support Reform.

He is Reform UK’s first-ever MP, representing a party polling around 10% of national voting attention. 

At a press conference, Anderson said he was “prepared to gamble on myself” because he said he knew “how many people support Reform and what they have to say”.

“All I want is my country back,” he added.

Reform UK founder and honorary president Nigel Farage said called the defection “huge”. He said: “I don’t think Westminster really understands this yet.”