Lee Anderson has claimed two Labour MPs deported from Israel should “seek asylum there”. Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed had made the trip with charity partners as part of an MPs’ delegation, but news broke on Saturday that the pair had been expelled from the country, with the Israeli immigration ministry accusing them of planning to “document the activities of the security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred”.

Weighing in on the row in a post on X this morning, Reform UK MP Lee Anderson shared a Sky News post about the story, writing: “Seen it all now. Labour MPs being deported the same day from Israel. Maybe they should claim asylum there.” The Ashfield MP’s jibe could be seen as a pointed dig at Keir Starmer and the Labour Government, who are still struggling to get the migrant crisis under control.

Foreign secretary David Lammy branded the Israeli government’s decision “unacceptable” and “no way to treat British parliamentarians”. He said: “It is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities.”

A war of words between erupted between Labour and the Conservatives over the weekend after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch appeared to defend the move, and saying she was “not surprised” they had been told to leave the country.

Speaking on Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme, she said: “I think that every country should be able to control its borders, and that’s what Israel

“They gave reasons why they didn’t believe that those people should come in based on their laws. And it’s really important that we respect other countries enforcing their borders.

“Those Labour MPs, according to the Israelis, were coming in to do something that they were not allowed to do, and so I respect that decision.”

Asked whether it “seems a bit odd”, Ms Badenoch added: “I’m not surprised.”

But Foreign Secretary David Lammy hit back at her comments on X, writing: “It’s disgraceful you are cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs. Do you say the same about Tory MPs banned from China?

“This government will continue to stand up for the rights of our MPs to speak their mind, whatever their party.”

Ms Badenoch responded: “Unlike China, Israel is our ally and a democracy. A good Foreign Secretary would be able to make that distinction.

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“It is EXACTLY the way they should be treated! Just because they are MP’s does NOT preclude them from being anti Israel or anti semetic!” 24

“Those two Labour MP’s do not represent me or my Country” 24

“They are representing the Hamas supporting Liebour voters of their constituency “ 22

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“Perhaps Labour MPs could put UK national interest first and do their jobs instead of campaigning for airports in Kashmir or promoting Hamas propaganda in parliament.”

In a statement on Sunday morning, Ms Yang and Ms Mohamed said they were “astounded” by the decision of the Israeli authorities to not allow them into the country.

They said: “It is vital that parliamentarians are able to witness first-hand the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.”

They added that they have “spoken out in Parliament in recent months” on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and “parliamentarians should feel free to speak truthfully in the House of Commons without fear of being targeted”.

The delegation they were part of was organised by the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (Map), which have been running trips to the occupied West Bank for over a decade.