Former Conservative Party deputy leader Lee Anderson defected to Reform Britain, becoming the party’s first member of the House of Commons.

Mr Anderson took office as Ashfield MP in 2019. Tory party expelled from parliament London Mayor Sadiq Khan has refused to apologize after accusing him of being controlled by “Islamists”.

While some of his colleagues have called for his reinstatement, others have accused him of Islamophobia.

Announcing his defection at an event in central London, Anderson told reporters he had done “a lot of soul-searching” on his “political journey” but concluded: “Someone has to take a stand.”

Politics Live: ‘I want my country back,’ Anderson declares

The MP added: “It’s no secret that I have been talking to my Reform friends for some time. “Reform UK has given me the opportunity to speak in Parliament on behalf of millions of people across the country who Feeling like your voice is not being heard.

“People will say I took a gamble. I was prepared to take a gamble on myself because I knew from my mailbox how many people in this country supported British reform and what they were saying.

“Like millions of people across the country, all I want is my country back.”

Asked by Sky News political editor Beth Rigby what message he wanted to send to former Conservative colleagues who fear defections could damage their chances at the next election, he said: “The country, the constituency and then It’s a political party.”

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Mr Anderson was welcomed by Reform Britain leader Richard Tes, who said his first MP would be a “red wall champion” who would “tell the truth like it is, no nonsense, no nonsense” .

Defecting to another party does not automatically trigger a by-election, but MPs can choose to hold one – as Douglas Carswell and Mark Lukelis did when they left the Conservatives to join UKIP.

However, Anderson said he would not call for a vote, saying doing so so close to an election would be “pretty reckless” and would “cost a fortune.”

A Tory spokesman said they “regret” Mr Anderson’s decision, adding: “A vote for reform will not bring about anything other than a Labor government under Keir Starmer taking us back to square one. There will be no consequences – that means higher taxes, higher energy costs, no action on Channel crossings, and uncontrolled immigration.”

Mr Anderson began his political career in the Labor Party as a councilor and staff member to the then MP for Ashfield, Gloria De Piero.

But after being suspended from the local organization, he chose to join the Conservatives and became their candidate for the 2019 general election, winning the seat with a majority of more than 5,000 votes.

The MP has become a controversial voice on the backbench for his views on immigration and the so-called culture wars, but he has received significant support from the right wing of the party and was appointed as deputy by Rishi Sunak President.

Mr Anderson’s latest defection would be a blow to Mr Sunak and a boost to Reform Britain, which currently polls ahead of the Lib Dems.