New Tory party vice chairman hits back at critics who oppose his tough position on death penalty

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09/02/2023 - LONDON - The new deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, Lee Anderson, has said he would support the return of the death penalty. In an interview with the Spectator before he was appointed to the role, he argued "nobody has ever committed a crime after being executed". The PM said neither he nor the government shared Mr Anderson's stance. But Labour accused Rishi Sunak of not being strong enough to stand up to what it called Mr Anderson's "nonsense". In the interview, conducted a few days before he was made deputy chairman on Tuesday, Mr Anderson was asked whether he would support the return of the death penalty. In response, he said: "Yes. Nobody has ever committed a crime after being executed." "100% success rate," he added. The MP for Ashfield suggested heinous crimes - such as the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby by Islamist extremists in 2013 - where the perpetrators are clearly identifiable, should be punishable by the death penalty. He told the magazine: "You'll get the certain groups saying: 'You can never prove it.' "Well, you can prove it if they have videoed it and are on camera - like the Lee Rigby killers. I mean: they should have gone, same week. I don't want to pay for these people." PICTURE: UNPIXS 09/02/2023

NEW Tory vice chairman Lee Anderson has hit back at critics of his tough position on the death penalty – saying it’s a “completely mainstream” view in Red Wall heartlands.

Lee Anderson defended his comments saying Britain should have tougher punishments for sick terrorists who killed Lee Rigby.

Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield Notts, left the Labour party in 2018

And he threw his support behind Labour MP Rosie Duffield – saying her suggestion being in the party was like an abusive relationship was spot on and “wish I’d left Labour sooner”.

Writing for HOAR today, the Ashfield MP said he was proud to call himself a Tory as it “allows free speech and encourages personal responsibility”.

Rishi Sunak and the Tory Chairman last week distanced themselves from his comments, but said he was entitled to his own opinions.

Mr Ashfield said: “It ain’t perfect, but the Tory Party allows free speech and encourages personal responsibility.

“This is why I have found my natural home with the Conservative Party.”

He hailed the PM’s immigration crackdown and five-point plan as a blueprint to keep the Tories in power, adding: “Get that right and I predict another five years for us, leaving the Labour loonies in the rightful place on opposition benches.”

Mr Anderson hit out at Sir Keir Starmer’s party for turning their backs on the working class and being “more worried about pronouns than the people’s priorities”.

And he vowed to learn the lessons of his Red Wall win in 2019 to help the Tories cling on to power and “keep Labour out of Downing Street”.

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