The Holborn and St Pancras Conservatives proudly tweeted photos and videos of Lee Anderson’s special visit [@ConservativeHSP]

THE leader of the Camden Conservatives said he would not personally have invited deputy chairman Lee Anderson to the borough for a private fund-raiser – and said he would not even have selected him as a Tory MP if it was up to him.

Mr Anderson was a special guest at a private fund-raiser in Primrose Hill on Tuesday and organisers said criticism of the event by Labour ward councillor Matt Cooper was an example of his party’s “cancel culture”.

The MP, who is also a presenter on GB News, tweeted that he’d had a good evening and recorded a video message with those who attended, and the chair of the Holborn and St Pancras constituency, Joanna Reeves, later  tweeted for him “to make sure you come back soon”. She wrote a letter published in the New Journal yesterday (Thursday)  which said they would not let Labour dictate who would be at their events.

Mr Anderson courted controversy by suggesting some people did not need to use food banks if they would just learn to cook and budget, and insists a nutritious meal can cost just 30p. He has also said that the next election may be fought on “culture wars”, and said he would not watch England matches during Euro 2020 because the players continued to “take the knee” – a practice which began in response to global anti-racism protests.

The former Labour councillor, who switched sides in 2018 while a councillor in Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, also supports the return of the death penalty in some cases.

During Wednesday’s all-member meeting at the Town Hall, Conservative leader Councillor Gio Spinella was urged to distance himself from his visit by Cllr Cooper.

Cllr Spinella said: “I can say that, personally, I would not have invited Lee Anderson to Camden but that was a decision made by the Holborn and St Pancras Constituency Conservative Association. They do not consult with the Camden Council group on who gets to come and not come.

“I would remind people how Lee Anderson does not reflect the kind of conservatism that me and my group usually stand by. Having said that, I would remind people that Lee Andersen was a Labour Party activist and member, a councillor, for a very long time before he carpet-bagged over to the Conservatives. Frankly, I would not have selected him on that basis alone, but – we got it.”

He added: “Speaking as a representative of the party with the first non-white prime minister and three female prime ministers, unlike the party opposite. I would say that every political party. unfortunately, has its uncomfortable elements. So I just mentioned Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott in this room.

“Having said that, I have no problem distinct distancing myself from Lee Anderson, and I would sincerely hope that the councillors in this chamber would have similar bravery to distance themselves from the characters in your party.”

Cllr Cooper had told the meeting he was “genuinely sad” that Mr Anderson had been at an event in his ward, adding: “I feel like I’ve peeked behind the curtain and found out what the Tories are saying when they are in  private, when they’re sipping champagne. I think it’s absolutely unacceptable that a character like Lee Anderson was deemed fit for the Tories to host.”