08 February 2023 , 12:22
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The Tories' new Chairman has described his divisive deputy Lee Anderson as a "fantastic asset" to the party - despite his controversial past remarks.
Greg Hands' defence came after Rishi Sunak handed Mr Anderson - the MP for Ashfield - the post of deputy Chairman in a mini-reshuffle on Tuesday.
Mr Anderson provoked outrage last year during a Commons speech when he suggested people using foodbanks "cannot cook properly" and "cannot budget".
Just two weeks ago the controversial MP also compared the Government to the "band on the Titanic" over its asylum seeker policy, according to a string of leaked WhatsApp messages.
Pressed on the past remarks, Mr Hands, who was also appointed to the position as party Chairman on Tuesday, said he would not "give a running commentary on things that may have been said in the past".
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New Tory Chairman Greg Hands declined to comment on Mr Anderson's past remarks (Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)He added: "What I will say is that Lee Anderson is a fantastic asset for the party.
"He is a man of great integrity and fantastic background, former coal miner actually, too, not that long ago, a member of the Labour Party and so he's somebody I think, who brings something different to the party.
"I think he and I will work very well together".
Quizzed again on LBC, Mr Hands said he had not "studied every single pronouncement made by Conservative backbenchers".
"In terms of things that may or may not have been said in the past, I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of what everybody has ever said in the past".
Responding to Mr Anderson's appointment last night, Labour's Deputy leader Angela Rayner referred to his previous 'Titanic' comments, saying: "Update: He's been handed a deck chair".
Mr Hands, who was appointed to the role as Tory Chairman after the sacking of Nadhim Zahawi, also admitted the upcoming local elections in May will be "difficult" for the Tories.
Mr Hands told GB News: "It's not a secret to say that this year's local elections will be a difficult set of local elections for the party.
"But the important thing is that we do as well as we can and set the platform for a general election next year."