Lee Anderson doubles down on ‘f*** off’ migrant blast as he refuses to apologise

Lee Anderson refuses to apologise for migrant comment

Lee Anderson tonight doubled down on his blast that migrants complaining about the Bibby Stockholm barge should “f*** off back to France”.

The Conservative Party deputy chairman refused to apologise for his remarks to the Express which have prompted hand-wringing from left-wingers.

Mr Anderson spoke out yesterday after lawyers and refugee charity Care4Calais blocked 20 migrants from being moved to the floating accommodation off the Dorset coast.

Asked during a GB News interview with Nigel Farage if he would say sorry, the Ashfield MP replied: “No.”

Pressed about the use of the expletive, Mr Anderson went on: “It’s borne out of frustration, it’s borne out of me being absolutely furious, my constituents and millions of people up and down the country, and I guess including yourself in this as well.

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak backs Lee Anderson in ‘f*** off back to France’ migrant barge row

“Furious the fact that these, and I hate the word asylum seekers because they’re not they’re illegal economic migrants, are coming over in their thousands and they’re being enabled by these charities.

“And the nerve of it. I’ve been to Calais, I’ve seen these migrants living in one-man tents and living in absolute squalor.

“Then they get here and we do our best, we bend over backwards to put them in decent accommodation, and all of a sudden they get a choice.

“Let’s not forget this barge, we’ve got workmen in the oil industry, grafters, living on these barges doing a good job to this great country of ours and they never complain once.

“It makes me sick to the pit of my stomach when these lefty lawyers, charities, the human rights campaigners say it’s not good enough.

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“Like I say, if it’s not good enough then they should go back to France, in stronger words.”

Tories reacted with fury yesterday after lawyers prevented migrants from being transferred from expensive hotels to the Bibby Stockholm.

Care4Calais chief executive Steve Smith, described the giant barge as a “quasi floating prison”, adding it is “inhumane” and “unbelievably cruel”.

But Mr Anderson told the Express: “If they don’t like barges then they should f*** off back to France.”

Mr Anderson added: “I think people have just had enough. These people come across the Channel in small boats… if they don’t like the conditions they are housed in here then they should go back to France, or better not come at all in the first place.”

The remarks sparked a row with former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott saying: “A new low even for the Tories.”

Meanwhile, Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan accused the Government of stoking “division and hate”.

But Mr Anderson – known as the Red Wall Rottweiler – has the backing of Downing Street.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk this morning said the Tory deputy chairman spoke for the British people with his remarks.

And No 10 said Mr Chalk was speaking for the Government when he defended the Ashfield MP.

The Justice Secretary told LBC: “Lee Anderson expresses the righteous indignation of the British people.

“Yes, he does it in salty terms, that’s his style, but his indignation is well placed.”

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