Jeremy Hunt dismisses Tory deputy chair ’30p Lee’ Anderson’s claim that asylum seekers should be held on Orkney if the Rwanda migrant plan fails – as Scottish MPs fume

Jeremy Hunt today dismissed a claim by the Tory deputy chairman that asylum seekers should be held on Orkney if the Rwanda migration plan fails.

The Chancellor brushed off Lee Anderson’s comments as a ‘colourful suggestion’ amid a furious backlash by Scottish MPs.

Mr Anderson, who has become well-known for his controversial remarks, claimed those escaping war of persecution should be sent to the remote archipelago.

He suggested it would be ‘job done’ if asylum accommodation was put on an island  ‘that’s got no one on there’.

But the Ashfield MP was accused of showing ‘disdain’ for island communities and ‘inhumanity’ towards vulnerable people.

Pressure was also heaped on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to ‘bring his deputy chair into line’ following Mr Anderson’s latest outburst about migration. 

Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson claimed asylum seekers should be held on Orkney if the Rwanda migration plan fails

The Ashfield MP, who has become well-known for his controversial remarks, claimed those escaping war of persecution should be sent to the remote archipelago

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt brushed off Mr Anderson’s comments as a ‘colourful suggestion’ amid a furious backlash by Scottish MPs

Lee Anderson’s history of controversies

Lee Anderson has been no stranger to controversy since entering the House of Commons in 2019.

Here are some of the rows the Ashfield MP has been caught up in…

Taking the knee

Ahead of the 2020 European Championships, Mr Anderson vowed to boycott England games during the football tournament due to the side’s decision to ‘take the knee’ before matches.

He said, by performing the anti-racism gesture which has become linked to the Black Lives Matter movement, the players were supporting a ‘political movement’ and risked alienating ‘traditional supporters’.

Mr Anderson watered down his boycott of England games when Gareth Southgate’s side reached the final.

He revealed he would allow himself to keep tabs on the score via his phone.

Food banks

Mr Anderson sparked fury last year after suggesting Britons are only using food banks because they ‘can’t budget’ and ‘can’t cook a meal from scratch’.

He also claimed there was not a ‘massive use for food banks’ in Britain.

Following criticism of his remarks, Mr Anderson offered ‘proof’ that meals can be cooked for 30p each. This saw him dubbed ’30p Lee’.

Support for the death penalty

Shortly after he was appointed Tory deputy chairman by Rishi Sunak this year, Mr Anderson faced a storm of criticism over his support for the return of the death penalty.

‘Nobody has ever committed a crime after being executed,’ Mr Anderson told the Spectator magazine.

‘You know that, don’t you? 100% success rate.’

Downing Street was forced to clarify that Mr Anderson does not speak for the Government in his party role.

Row with Game of Throne star’s dad

In April, Mr Anderson told the father of Game of Throne star Rose Leslie to ‘come outside’ in a bust-up in Parliament.

He was claimed to have been ‘aggressive’ towards Sebastian Leslie, whose daughter played Ygritte in the hit TV series, during a row in a House of Commons dining room.

The altercation was said to have been prompted by the explusion of North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen from the Conservative Party.

But Mr Anderson said it had been Mr Bridgen who was ‘rude and aggressive’ during the altercation.

MPs’ second jobs

In March, Mr Anderson was revealed to be earning £100,000 a year from his TV role with GB News – less than 18 months after he had blasted MPs who need ‘an extra £100,000 a year’ on top of their parliamentary salary.

In the wake of the Owen Paterson lobbying row, Mr Anderson had said: ‘If you need an extra £100,000 a year on top then you should really be looking for another job.’

He later signed up to GB News where he devotes eight hours a week to his role as a presenter and contributor.

The Commons sleaze watchdog recently launched a probe into Mr Anderson’s filming of a promo video for his weekly show from Parliament’s roof.

MPs are subject to strict rules over the taxpayer-funded services provided to them by the Commons in support of their parliamentary activities.

Eddie Izzard

Mr Anderson came under fire last October when he questioned whether female representation would ‘increase or decrease’ if Eddie Izzard was elected as an MP.

He claimed he ‘would not follow him into the toilets’ if Izzard, who identifies as a woman with she/her pronouns, came to Parliament.

At the time, Izzard was attempting to become Labour’s candidate in the Sheffield Central constituency.

Mr Anderson was accused of making ‘transphobic’ comments.

‘F*** off back to France’

In August, Mr Anderson told asylum seekers refusing to board the Bibby Stockholm barge they should ‘f*** off back to France’.

He delivered his blast after 20 people declined to get on the vessel in Portland Port, Dorset.

Lawyers claimed some had a ‘severe fear of water’ after traumatic experiences.

‘If they don’t like barges then they should f*** off back to France,’ an irate Mr Anderson said.

Despite outrage at the comments, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk supported Mr Anderson’s ‘salty’ indignation as ‘well placed’. 

Downing Street also backed Mr Anderson amid a furious row.

Speaking on GB News, the TV channel that pays him £100,000 per year as a presenter and contributor, Mr Anderson said: ‘I know it’s a bit parky up there this time of year.

‘But if people are genuinely escaping war or persecution then a nice Scottish island with a few outbuildings would be suitable.

‘This is a beautiful country. Parts of Scotland are a “go to” destination, the remote islands – I’d like to be able to afford a place up there.

‘If we can get some accommodation up there, keep these people safe – these people want to be safe, they’re fleeing so-called persecution from these war-torn countries.

‘If we can find an island in the Orkneys or up there that’s got no-one on there to start off with, put some decent accommodation on, then it’s job done.’

Mr Anderson’s comments came after he last week suggested the Government should ‘ignore the laws’ after the Supreme Court ruled ministers’ plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda were unlawful.

He claimed Britain ‘should just put the planes in the air now and send them to Rwanda’.

Quizzed about Mr Anderson’s latest remarks about Orkney this morning, Mr Hunt told Sky News: ‘Lee will always have colourful suggestions, as he always does actually in British politics.

‘But the fact of the matter is we will do what it takes to stop the boats, and I think we’ve had that clarity from Rishi Sunak.’

But Tory former Chancellor Lord Norman Lamont was more forthright and condemned a ‘very bad remark about the Orkneys’.

‘I come from Shetland so I’m not very amused,’ he added.

Alistair Carmichael, the Orkney and Shetland MP and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for home affairs, said Mr Anderson had shown ‘disdain’ towards his constituents.

‘This is not a serious proposition,’ he said.

‘I would be astonished if Lee Anderson could even find Orkney – or in his words “the Orkneys” – on a map.

‘His remarks show inhumanity towards desperate and vulnerable people – and disdain towards island communities to boot.

‘Anderson has form for brainstorming Tory policy live on air.

‘Obviously, this is a novel sort of brainstorming as it does not actually involve the engagement of a brain but instead looks more like an exercise in corralling as many prejudices as possible into one space and calling it a policy.

‘If Rishi Sunak cannot bring his deputy chair into line then the only conclusion is that he approves of these attitudes.

‘It is yet another attempt by a Conservative MP to kick up dust and distract attention from the complete failure of this government to manage our asylum and immigration system.

‘Every day the backlog of unprocessed asylum applications gets longer. They should focus on fixing that, instead of looking around for new rows to pick.’

The Scottish Greens spokesperson for rural and island communities, Ariane Burgess MSP, added: ‘The insensitive and thoughtless remarks by Lee Anderson underline how out of touch the Tory Westminster Government is from the needs of our islanders.

‘Many island communities have already welcomed migrants with open arms, not least in Lewis and Bute, where those displaced by the Syrian crisis have established thriving businesses, become key parts of their communities and added to the diversity and vibrancy of Island life.

‘Rural communities have been crying out for more power to be devolved over migration and these latest remarks underline why.

‘Our islands are not empty wildernesses – they’re thriving communities.

‘They are not remote places with a few outbuildings.

‘The Orkney Islands have seen a steady growth in population over recent years and regularly appear on list of the most desirable places to live.’

After last week’s Supreme Court ruling delivered another huge blow to the Government’s plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, Mr Anderson despaired at a ”dark day for the British people’. 

‘I think the British people have been very patient, I’ve been very patient, and now they’re demanding action,’ he said.

‘And this has sort of forced our hand a little bit now. My take is we should just put the planes in the air now and send them to Rwanda and show strength.

‘It’s time for the Government to show real leadership and send them back, same day.’

He added: ‘I think we should ignore the laws and send them straight back the same day.’

Downing Street declined to slap down Mr Anderson for his suggestion that the Government act in defiance of the law.

Mr Sunak’s press secretary said: ‘I think we appreciate that our MPs have strong views on this because, frankly, the country cares about this.’

Later, the PM himself defended Mr Anderson telling a Downing Street press conference: ‘I think what Lee’s comments and indeed the comments of others do is reflect the strength of feeling in the country on this issue.

‘And I absolutely share actually in the frustrations that my colleagues and indeed people across the country have about this issue. Everyone should understand the strength of feeling.’

But Home Secretary James Cleverly, asked in the House of Commons if he would disassociate himself from Mr Anderson’s comments, said: ‘This country prides itself on being a law-abiding country.

‘To hear the Government’s position on things, listen to the statements from Government ministers.’

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk also felt compelled to stress the Government’s commitment to abide by court rulings.

He posted on Twitter: ‘Respecting the rule of law means respecting the impartial judgments of our independent courts.

‘Judges apply the law without fear or favour – a longstanding principle of our democratic constitution.

‘This Government is absolutely committed to stopping the boats, and we will continue to work to deliver on this promise for the British people.’

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