An Ashfield councillor has reported the area's MP to the Metropolitan Police over remarks about the comedian and activist Eddie Izzard which he claims represent a hate crime. Lee Anderson, who has served as Ashfield's Conservative MP since 2019, appeared on Talk TV on Wednesday (October 26) when the subject of Eddie Izzard came up.
Eddie Izzard, who uses the pronouns "she/her", is one of six candidates vying to take over from Sheffield Central's Labour MP Paul Blomfield at the next general election, with the Labour Party yet to make a decision on which candidate will be chosen to fight the contest. Discussing Eddie Izzard's self-identification, Mr Anderson questioned whether the comedian's election as an MP would "increase or decrease" female representation in Parliament.
Referring to Eddie Izzard, Lee Anderson said: "I'm not sure what he's all about, Keir Starmer's not sure what he's all about. And you know what, the old traditional working-class Labour voters will take a look at Eddie Izzard and think, y’know, really?
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"Is that what's coming to parliament? I think it opens a whole new debate, mate. I'm going to be honest now, controversial as always, if he does get elected and I'm still here, I shouldn't be following him into the toilets."
Councillor David Hennigan, a member of Ashfield District Council on behalf of the Ashfield Independents, has now reported these remarks to the Metropolitan Police and to the Conservative Party. In a letter to the Conservative Party Chairman, Nadhim Zahawi, Councillor Hennigan writes: "I will ask the Metropolitan Police to look into these comments as I believe a hate crime has been committed.
"I believe the comments are transphobic. People need to know that Anderson is not typical of the people of Ashfield - most of whom will be disgusted with what Anderson said."
But Mr Anderson has described Councillor Hennigan's report as a "waste of police time". Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, Mr Anderson brought up the recent case of the convicted Ashfield Independent councillor Tom Hollis by saying: "David Hennigan should concentrate on the criminals he supports at Ashfield District Council.
"I was just expressing an opinion. This is a waste of police time because the Metropolitan Police are dealing with knife crimes, murders, and they don't need out-of-touch councillors draining their resources."
The Metropolitan Police has been contacted to establish whether the force is investigating the claims about the comments, whilst Nadhim Zahawi's office has also been contacted for comment.
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