'I'm sorry I chose those words': Tory MP Paul Scully apologises after claiming there were 'no-go areas' in some cities

27 February 2024, 18:08 | Updated: 27 February 2024, 18:09

"I'm sorry that I chose those words" says Tory MP Paul Scully

By Jenny Medlicott

Tory MP Paul Scully has said he’s sorry he ‘chose those words’ after claiming there were religious ‘no-go areas’.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Tory MP for Sutton and Cheam sparked fresh backlash on Monday after he claimed there were ‘no-go areas’ in Tower Hamlets in London and Sparkhill in Birmingham on Monday.

Speaking to LBC’s Sangita Myska, Mr Scully said: “I will repeat my apology that I’m sorry that I chose those words.

“I can repeat it any number of times but actually what I’m sorry about is that I actually bothered to stand up in the first place and what worries me about that, because that’s not how my heart works, if we lose moderate voices in this debate then you do carry on with the frenzy that we’ve had for the last 24 hours… you leave it to the populist voice which is very inappropriate.”

Mr Scully made the comments after MP Lee Anderson, who had the Conservative whip removed over the weekend, claimed 'Islamists' had 'got control' of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

However, the MP for Sutton and Cheam still refused to characterise Mr Anderson’s comments as Islamophobic following his apology, instead insisting they were anti-muslim.

Paul Scully calls Lee Anderson's Sadiq Khan comments 'anti-Muslim'

He said of the term Islamophobia: “I don’t accept that term, I believe it’s anti-muslim. I think that’s pretty still clear that I’m condemning what he’s saying.”

Pressed on the evidence behind his use of the phrase ‘no-go areas’, Mr Scully claimed that the case of Birmingham - which he admitted he had meant Small Heath not Sparkhill - was rooted in personal experience.

He said: “I was there with a British Bangladeshi friend of mine a short time ago when actually I was told not to get out of the car.

“I was told not to get out the car when we wanted to go to the cashpoint, stopping off to the cashpoint, because he would then do it for my own safety.”

But Sangita shut Mr Scully down, as she said his experience failed to act as evidence for his previous comments and was instead an “anecdote”.

Paul Scully has since apologised for this comments.
Paul Scully has since apologised for this comments. . Picture: Alamy

It comes after earlier on Tuesday LBC’s Nick Ferrari cut his interview with a minister short after he repeatedly failed to answer his questions about Lee Anderson's comments on Sadiq Khan.

Tory MPs, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have admitted that what Mr Anderson said was "wrong" but have repeatedly refused to answer one question: was what Mr Anderson said Islamophobic?

Nick asked immigration minister Michael Tomlinson on multiple occasions earlier on Tuesday, but to no avail.

Pressure has been growing on Mr Sunak and the Tories to say whether Mr Anderson's comments were Islamophobic, including from those within the party.

Mr Anderson refused to apologise for his comments about Sadiq Khan on Monday.

The MP for Ashfield admitted his words were "clumsy" but doubled down on his criticism of the Mayor of London.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Chickens, poultry, on free-range chicken farm

Tens of thousands of birds culled at farm after suspected bird flu case

ynthia Erivo attends the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2025 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 16, 2025 in London, England.

Stars stun on the red carpet at 2025 BAFTAs

The head of Ofsted said children in England feel going to school is optional since the pandemic, as their parents opt to work from home instead of going to the office.

Parents working from home makes kids not want to go to school, Ofsted chief says

Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal arrives at Molinuex

Millionaire Premier League star earning £150k a week loses HMRC court battle over hundreds of thousands in unpaid tax

Actress Kim Sae-ron attends 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards at Asia World-Expo on December 1, 2017 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

South Korean ‘Bloodhounds’ and ‘The Man from Nowhere’ star Kim Sae-ron found dead at 24

Emergency services were called just after 7pm on Friday amid reports a woman had suffered serious injuries

'Screaming, shouting, crying': Landlady breaks silence after woman shot dead at village pub - as manhunt continues

Exclusive
Jonathan Reynolds told LBC’s Iain Dale that NATO is ‘a highly effective integrated defensive structure’, and that US requests for higher European spending on the alliance are ‘not unreasonable’.

Europe must ‘work closely’ with US to face Russia, Business Sec tells LBC ahead of emergency Ukraine summit

.T. Miller #10 of Team USA and Colton Parayko #55 of Team Canada fight during the first period in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at the Bell Centre on February 15, 2025

Gloves off: Three fights in first nine seconds as USA beat Canada to reach 4 Nations ice hockey final

Exclusive
Europe must boost defence spending if it wants peace, Ukraine's former PM has told LBC.

‘If you want peace, pay for it', says ex-Ukrainian PM as Starmer to 'overrule' Reeves and boost defence spending

Lucy Letby was ‘shocked and distressed’ during the investigation into the deaths of babies that she was later found guilty of murdering, and ‘deserves an Oscar’ if she was lying, her former boss said.

Lucy Letby was 'innocent', distressed and ‘deserves an Oscar if she was acting’ says former boss

Jockey Michael O'Sullivan at Ascot Racecourse. Picture date: Friday November 22, 2024.

Cheltenham-winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan dies aged just 24 after fall in race

Prime Minister Keir Starmer Meets With Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves At Downing Street

Starmer to 'overrule' Reeves and call for increased defence spending ahead of meeting with Donald Trump

images shared on social media show police arresting a man following the attack.

'Laughing' Syrian asylum seeker who stabbed boy, 14, to death was motivated by 'Islamic terrorism'

Axel Rudakubana has been jailed for 52 years.

FBI joins investigation into Southport killer amid claims he wiped internet search history

Heavy Rush In Trains For Last Amrit Snan On Prayagraj Kumbh

At least 15 dead in train station stampede in New Delhi

Pope Francis Attends The Weekly General Audience on Wednesday.

Pope Francis to miss Sunday prayer due to 'absolute rest' order after bronchitis diagnosis