Lee Anderson given hero’s welcome at Tory Party fundraiser despite suspension

Lee Anderson welcomed with a standing ovation at a Tory Party fundraiser this evening, in a sign the party faithful want him readmitted to the party.

Mr Anderson made a surprise appearance at a dinner raising money for Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith, where Liz Truss was billed as the guest of honour.

The former party chairman’s appearance was a “complete surprise” to the assembled members, though they welcomed him rapturously when he entered the room.

One onlooker claimed he was hugged by the former Prime Minister, who quipped ‘who is this de-whipped Tory?” When greeting him.

The event was billed by the Bassetlaw Conservatives as a spring dinner “In Conversation with the Rt. Hon. Liz Truss MP”, promising to speak with Mr Clarke-Smith about her time in office.

Members were promised “an insight into her unique position” during the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of King Charles III.

Hosted at a Bassetlaw venue, the evening included a two-course dinner and promised that all money raised would go towards re-electing Brendan at the next General Election.

Since Mr Anderson’s suspension Tory MPs have demanded he be given the whip back following a Red Wall revolt.

On Monday the Express revealed calls from MPs Lia Nici, Marco Longhi and Jonathan Gullis to re-admit him to the party.

Ms Nici said “Lee should absolutely get the Conservative whip back.”

Mr Longhi added he should “of course” be re-admitted, arguing he “was expressing a frustration at how the policing of protests, or even the lack of it, is being handled”.

“We see Starmer and the Speaker using those very arguments around intimidation and fear to suit their agenda and influence democratic decisions and break conventions. Sadiq Khan is not an Islamist but he is responsible for policing in London last time I checked.”

Mr Gullis said he hoped “that we will see him return to that party sooner rather than later but of course, he has to, I think, make that apology to Mayor Khan.”

At PMQs on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak boasted about his suspension of the Tory Whip from Mr Anderson, contrasting his decision with the dithering of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer over his candidate in Rochdale.

Ms Truss has also faced calls to lose the whip from opposition MPs, who criticised her appearance at the Republican CPAC convention last week.

Mr Clarke-Smith served with Mr Anderson as deputy Conservative Party chairmen prior to resigning over the Government’s Rwanda bill.

The pair of trouble-making Red Wall Tories quit their positions to back an amendment to toughen up the flagship immigration.

The Conservatives, Ms Truss, Mr Clarke-Smith and Mr Anderson were approached for comment.