Deputy Conservative celebration chair Lee Anderson engaged in an “aggressive” confrontation with MP Andrew Bridgen and a former Tory councillor in a parliamentary eating room.
The deputy chair was mentioned to have instructed 69-year-old Sebastian Leslie to “come outside and we’ll sort it out” as they rowed over Mr Bridgen being expelled from the celebration.
The extraordinary altercation – throughout which the ex-Tory councillor requested if Mr Anderson needed to duel utilizing “pistols or claymores” – got here after the deputy chair clashed with Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley.
Mr Bridgen and his visitor Mr Leslie have been having lunch in Portcullis House after it emerged Mr Bridgen had been kicked out of the Conservative Party for evaluating coronavirus vaccines to the Holocaust. They mentioned they turned embroiled in an argument with Mr Anderson after seeing him having lunch with buddies within the adjournment restaurant.
Mr Bridgen – accused by Mr Anderson of being “rude and aggressive” – was mentioned to have been angered by Tory officers making his expulsion public whereas he nonetheless has time to attraction in opposition to the choice.
Mr Leslie, whose daughter Rose Leslie performed Ygritte in Game of Thrones, mentioned he instructed the celebration deputy “hold on Lee” as a result of “he was being so bloody rude to Andrew”.
“He turned to me and said, ‘Hold on grandad, come outside and we’ll sort it out’,” Mr Leslie continued.
As a chieftain of the Scottish clan Leslie, he requested Mr Anderson whether or not he needed to make use of “pistols or claymores”, which he defined was a reference to historic traditions of duelling. “He was aggressive and out of control,” Mr Leslie, a grandfather-of-six, added. “It was very threatening and aggressive.”
Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson
(BBC)
Mr Leslie, who was suspended from the Tories in 2018 over council tax funds, mentioned he didn’t plan to make a grievance regardless of believing the MP was “extremely rude” and “obviously bloody angry”.
In flip, Mr Anderson mentioned Mr Bridgen had been “rude and aggressive” as he lunched with two buddies. “I was having lunch with two friends when a very angry-looking Andrew Bridgen walked over with his friend,” the MP for Ashfield mentioned.
He added: “Andrew spoke briefly to one of my guests who he knew but then turned his attentions to me in a rude and aggressive manner. I literally had no idea what he was talking about and then both men left. After apologising to my guests for the outburst, I then walked over to Mr Bridgen’s table to express my disapproval.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Britain’s high police officer accused Mr Anderson of being “personally offensive” in an offended conflict over policing. Sir Mark Rowley mentioned the senior Tory had solely a “partial understanding of the law” as he was questioned about what the Met was doing to deal with disruptive eco-protests.
Mr Anderson mentioned he “did not think” the Met commissioner was “doing his job correctly”. As the trade got here to a head, Sir Mark instructed Mr Anderson: “I am not going to sit here … if people want to be personally offensive, then write it in newspapers – but I’m not going to answer those questions.”
