Prime minister Rishi Sunak has declared he is “living proof” that Britain is not a racist country as he sought to douse the Islamophobia row, The Times reports.
He warned that all politicians had an obligation to be “careful” and not “unnecessarily inflame” tensions after the former deputy Tory chairman, Lee Anderson, was accused of stoking anti-Muslim hate.
He denied that Conservatives have Islamophobic tendencies.
Sunak said his priority is to “try and take the heat out of this situation and that’s what everyone wants to see,” the daily added.
Sunak made his comments after Anderson again refused to apologise for claiming that Islamists had “got control” of the London mayor Sadiq Khan.
While the party withdrew the whip for Anderson, the move has divided Tory MPs with some claiming that the suspension will upset party supporters.
Grassroots Conservative supporters have called Rishi Sunak a “snake” over Lee Anderson’s suspension and wanted it revoked, The Guardian reports.
In leaked WhatsApp messages, members of the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO), which was founded by disgruntled Tories after Boris Johnson and then Liz Truss were ousted, attacked the prime minister for kicking Anderson out of the parliamentary party, the daily added.
On Monday night the former home secretary Suella Braverman described the reaction to Anderson’s comments as “hysteria”.
She said the focus should be on how to tackle Islamist extremism in the UK, The Times reports.
Right-wing party Reform UK said Anderson’s sentiments were “supported by millions of British citizens” and suggested he would be welcome to their party if he wishes.