The appointment of Lee Anderson as the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party has sparked division online, with many criticising Rishi Sunak's choice. The Ashfield MP says he is "extremely grateful" to have been given the job as part of a small reshuffle of the Prime Minister's top team on Tuesday (February 7).
Mr Anderson will serve alongside the new chairman of the Conservative Party, Greg Hands MP, who has appointed following the sacking of Nadhim Zahawi over his tax affairs. But news of Lee Anderson's new role provoked anger from some.
Labour MP Zarah Sultana wrote on Twitter: "Lee Anderson MP has just been made Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party. He boycotted the England team because they took the knee and said people in poverty 'cannot budget' and should cook 30p meals. That sound you can hear? It's the Conservatives scraping the barrel."
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Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds wrote: "A week ago Lee Anderson likened the Conservative Government to the 'band on the Titanic'. A week later he's decided to take his place among the deckchairs."
But responding to some of the criticism following his appointment, Lee Anderson tweeted: "The more my critics criticise me the more I know I am doing and saying the right things. If they ever stop criticising me then that's the time to worry."
He also received much support online following his promotion. Martin Daubney, who himself ran against Lee Anderson in Ashfield during the 2019 general election, said: "The fact that Anna Soubry, Angela Rayner, James O'Brexit, Carol Vorderman, the Remainstream Media - Sky News, BBC Radio 4, LBC – Steve Bray & a tsunami of foot-stamping Remainiacs are all annoyed at the Lee Anderson appointment says to me the Tories chose the best man."
In a statement following his appointment, Lee Anderson said: "I am extremely grateful to have a great relationship with the Conservative Membership, and as the Deputy Chairman of the Party I will continue to get the message out that the only Party that should have the keys to Downing Street is the Conservative Party.
"Thank you to all the people who have supported me over the last 3 years and who continue to support me. I will be taking my new role really seriously working 7 days a week, 12 hours a day. It is a real honour to be on this journey from pit to Parliament."
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