LEE Anderson has been left embarrassed after a social media rant about “illegal” immigrants who turned out to be NHS nurses.
The Reform UK MP posted a statement on Facebook where he suspected a Travelodge located at Sutton in Ashfield was housing people who had entered the country “illegally”.
Anderson said he contacted the hotel, and then issued a correction on his original post as the Travelodge was not housing immigrants, but rather international nurses working in the NHS who were on holiday with their families.
The initial post by Anderson said: “I do not want groups of young men who have entered our country illegally roaming our streets. It is not racist or bigoted to say this.
"I love my constituency and will do whatever it takes to protect it.”
However, people from his constituency were quick to correct the MP, as one person said: “I am appalled to see the comments on here.
“Yes there were two bus loads of people there, who are mostly international nurses and their families working in [King's Mill Hospital], and nursing homes in and around Sutton and Mansfield.
“They were on a weekend trip to have a family holiday together.
“None of them are on benefits, nobody lives in Travelodge and all of them pay taxes like you all do.”
Anderson reposted the comments stating he knew there had to be a “reasonable explanation”.
He added: “I thank these people for their service to our NHS."
Travelodge and Reform UK have been approached for comment.
