Lee Anderson, a former deputy chair of the Conservative party, has joined Reform UK, according to the rightwing populist party's leader, Richard Tice. Anderson's defection was announced at a central London press conference. Anderson lost the Tory whip after claiming Islamists had 'got control' of Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London. The Ashfield MP becomes the only parliamentarian to sit for Reform, which grew out of the Brexit party after the 2016 referendum. Anderson gave a brief speech in which he said, several times, 'I want my country back', citing immigration and recent pro-Palestine marches

Source: The Guardian March 11, 2024 12:05 UTC