Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, in interviews with Sky News and Trevor Phillips, addressed the controversy surrounding Lee Anderson's comments, stating, "The words that he chose to use were not the right words to use, they were the wrong words." Dowden emphasized the importance of words and noted that Anderson was given a chance to apologize but failed to do so, leading to the stripping of his Tory whip. Additionally, Dowden defended Suella Braverman, suggesting she should not have to apologize for her comments and described the issue surrounding Anderson's remarks about Sadiq Khan as a 'distraction'. Dowden also remarked, "What he said was wrong," when discussing Anderson's suspension.
Does Lee Anderson's suspension mean the Tory party suspects he is a racist? "What he said was wrong", says @OliverDowden. When pushed on the question by @TrevorPTweets, the deputy PM does not explicitly say 'no'. #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/Cawlp9Eids
Oliver Dowden tells Sky News that he doesn't think Suella Braverman should have to apologise for her comments and suggests that while Lee Anderson used the wrong words about Sadiq Khan, he thinks the issue is a "distraction" https://t.co/WERMyH52RC
Oliver Dowden on Lee Anderson: "What he said was wrong and words matter. He was given the opportunity to apologise and he didn't do so and so we removed the whip."
Oliver Dowden asked by @TrevorPTweets why Lee Anderson was stripped of the Tory whip: "The words that he chose to use were not the right words to use, they were the wrong words — and words do matter"
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden on Lee Anderson: "What he said was wrong and words matter. He was given the opportunity to apologise and he didn't do so." #trevorphillips