Sadiq Khan Rips Lee Anderson For ‘Fuelling Hate Crime’ After ITV Publish Leaked Recording

London mayor Sadiq Khan blasted Reform UK MP Lee Anderson for “fuelling hate crime and violent threats” against him after the former Tory deputy chair was heard in a leaked recording saying that Khan “hates this country… our heritage, our culture.”

The recording, which was published by ITV News, also revealed Anderson claiming ahead of his suspension for inflammatory comments about Khan he had the support of Tory cabinet ministers. After he lost the party whip, some within the Conservative Party allegedly told him: “Rishi has thrown you under the bus.”

Also referencing reports from Wednesday about Tory mayoral candidate for London Susan Hall, Sadiq Khan issued a statement criticising his rivals: “In the past 24 hours we have seen my Tory mayoral opponent endorsing Facebook groups rife with antisemitism, Islamophobia and death threats against me. And now we have a former Tory party Deputy chair caught on camera being racist.”

He continued: “It is deeply depressing that he confirms his Islamophobia and anti Muslim hatred was cheered on by current Tory party staff, MPs and Cabinet ministers. It’s unpatriotic to talk down modern, diverse, brilliant Britain in this way. And it has real-world consequences, fuelling hate crime and violent threats.”

London residents are taking to the polls on Thursday to vote in the city’s hotly contested mayoral election.