Lee Anderson apologises in Commons for telling staff to 'f*** off'

Reform UK's Lee Anderson today made a grovelling apology in the House of Commons for telling a parliamentary security officer to 'f*** off'.

The Ashfield MP admitted breaking Parliament's rules on bullying and harassment after using 'totally unacceptable' language.

Mr Anderson, known as '30p Lee' due to his past comments about food bank users, said he had 'learned significant lessons' and vowed never act in the same way again.

The 57-year-old had been ordered to issue an apology to the Commons, as well as to the security officer, over an incident in November last year. 

He was unsuccessful with an appeal against a watchdog's ruling, which found he swore twice at the security officer when his pass did not work at one of Parliament's entrances.

At the time of the incident, Mr Anderson was deputy chairman of the Conservative Party. He later quit the Tories amid an 'Islamophobia' row and then joined Reform.

He was re-elected to the Commons at July's general election as a candidate for his new party, which is led by Nigel Farage.

According to a report by Parliament's Independent Expert Panel (IEP), the security officer lodged a complaint after being told to 'f*** off' by Mr Anderson.

The incident occurred at the Derby Gate entrance to Parliament on 3 November, 2023.

Mr Anderson asked the security officer to 'open the door' and allow him access to the parliamentary estate, before the security officer asked to check the MP's pass, the report said.

'The respondent replied, 'F*** off, everyone opens the door to me, you are the only one',' the IEP report added.

'The complainant again explained he would need to check the respondent's pass. 

'The respondent then approached the complainant and said, 'F*** you, I have a train to catch', before walking out of the search post.'

In a personal statement to the Commons this afternoon, Mr Anderson said: 'I accept the findings of the IEP and the Parliamentary Commissioners for Standards in full and without reservation.

'On 3 November 2023 at the Derby Gate entrance I was involved in an incident with a security guard.

'During the incident I spoke to the complainant in a manner that was totally unacceptable and which included swearing and other language that goes against the House of Commons bullying and harassment policy.

'I would like to apologies to the complainant and to this House for my behaviour.

'Our security staff do an incredible job and should always be treated with the utmost of respect.

'The standards of an MP's behaviour must always be at a higher standard.

'I give you and this House my firm assurance that I've learned significant lessons through this process, and a firm undertaking that such behaviour on my part will never happen again.' 

After upholding the complaint against Mr Anderson, the IEP had told Mr Anderson to apologise to the security officer and to the Commons.

A sub-panel accepted the MP's evidence that he had 'challenging personal circumstances' on the day in question and his 'unacceptable behaviour' was 'not planned or premeditated'.

In his appeal, the MP had claimed the allegations were 'untrue' and said there was 'absolutely no evidence at all to prove or disprove what I said during the brief exchange I had with the security guard'.

Mr Anderson added it was 'really quite astonishing' that there had been a 10-month investigation into an incident 'which lasted for around 20 seconds'.

But the sub-panel dismissed the MP's appeal and ordered him to make an apology to the Commons by means of a personal statement, as well as sending a written apology to the security officer.

They noted that Mr Anderson had already completed 'Valuing Everyone' training.

Lee Anderson's history of controversies

Lee Anderson has been no stranger to controversy since entering the House of Commons in 2019.

Here are some of the rows the Ashfield MP has been caught up in...

Taking the knee

Ahead of the 2020 European Championships, Mr Anderson vowed to boycott England games during the football tournament due to the side's decision to 'take the knee' before matches.

He said by performing the anti-racism gesture, which had become linked to the Black Lives Matter movement, the players were supporting a 'political movement' and risked alienating 'traditional supporters'.

Mr Anderson watered down his boycott of England games when Gareth Southgate's side reached the final.

He revealed he would allow himself to keep tabs on the score via his phone.

Food banks

Mr Anderson sparked fury after suggesting Britons are only using food banks because they 'can't budget' and 'can't cook a meal from scratch'.

He also claimed there was not a 'massive use for food banks' in Britain.

Following criticism of his remarks, Mr Anderson offered 'proof' that meals can be cooked for 30p each. This saw him dubbed '30p Lee'.

Support for the death penalty

Shortly after he was appointed Tory deputy chairman, Mr Anderson faced a storm of criticism over his support for the return of the death penalty.

'Nobody has ever committed a crime after being executed,' Mr Anderson told the Spectator magazine. 'You know that, don't you? 100% success rate.'

Downing Street was forced to clarify that Mr Anderson did not speak for the Tory government in his party role.

Row with Game of Thrones star's dad

Mr Anderson told the father of Game of Thrones star Rose Leslie to 'come outside' in a bust-up in Parliament.

He was claimed to have been 'aggressive' towards Sebastian Leslie, whose daughter played Ygritte in the hit TV series, during a row in a House of Commons dining room.

The altercation was said to have been prompted by the expulsion of former MP Andrew Bridgen from the Conservative Party.

But Mr Anderson said it had been Mr Bridgen who was 'rude and aggressive' during the altercation.

MPs' second jobs

Mr Anderson was revealed to be earning £100,000 a year from his TV role with GB News - less than 18 months after he had blasted MPs who need 'an extra £100,000 a year' on top of their parliamentary salary.

In the wake of the Owen Paterson lobbying row, Mr Anderson had said: 'If you need an extra £100,000 a year on top then you should really be looking for another job.'

He later signed up to GB News where he devotes eight hours a week to his role as a presenter and contributor.

Eddie Izzard

Mr Anderson came under fire when he questioned whether female representation would 'increase or decrease' if Eddie Izzard was elected as an MP.

He claimed he 'would not follow him into the toilets' if Izzard, who identifies as a woman with she/her pronouns, came to Parliament.

At the time, Izzard was attempting to become Labour's candidate in the Sheffield Central constituency.

Mr Anderson was accused of making transphobic comments.

'F*** off back to France'

Mr Anderson told asylum seekers refusing to board the Bibby Stockholm barge they should 'f*** off back to France'.

He delivered his blast after 20 people declined to get on the vessel in Portland Port, Dorset.

Lawyers claimed some had a 'severe fear of water' after traumatic experiences.

'If they don't like barges then they should f*** off back to France,' an irate Mr Anderson said.