Lee Anderson, the newly minted Reform UK MP, has embarked on a constituency tour alongside party leader Richard Tice, signaling a bold departure from the Conservative Party after losing his Tory whip due to comments about London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Starting the tour from Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, aboard an open-top bus, Anderson made it clear that his defection was not about pressuring fellow Tory MPs to follow suit. Instead, he emphasized the importance of individual conscience in making such decisions.
Addressing inquiries about potential defections, Anderson remarked, “That’s up to them. I’m not putting pressure on anybody. They’ve got to wrestle with their own conscience on that one and do what they think is right by themselves.”
Despite his departure, Anderson maintains connections with his former colleagues, asserting, “I’ve still got friends. You don’t lose your friends overnight – not your real friends anyway.”
Engaging with constituents at various stops, Anderson expressed his deep-rooted connection to the area, having worked in the local pits and factories. He conveyed a sentiment of being in touch with the community’s thoughts and sentiments, highlighting his role in echoing their concerns.
Speaking from atop the Reform bus in a Morrisons car park, Anderson resonated with the sentiments of the people, stating, “I love this place. I worked in the pit here, worked in the factories here. I know what you people think and say.”
Expressing a desire to reclaim the country, Anderson voiced his frustration with successive governments’ policies, which, in his view, have led to the erosion of national sovereignty. He emphasized his love for the country and its people, echoing sentiments of patriotism and a desire for change.
