Anderson was criticised by opposition MPs and an anti-racism campaign group after telling the Daily Express that "people have had enough" of the transfer of asylum seekers to the barge being delayed by safety concerns and legal challenges.
"If they don't like barges then they should fuck off back to France," he said. "These people come across the Channel in small boats... if they don't like the conditions they are housed in here then they should go back to France, or better not come at all in the first place."
Anderson won the backing of Alex Chalk, the justice secretary, who said yesterday that while his colleague's language was "salty" his "indignation is well placed", and the comments were "not bigotry at all".
Later yesterday, No 10 said the justice secretary had been speaking for the government when he backed Anderson.
Opposition MPs criticised Anderson's language. The former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who is an independent MP, said: "A new low even for the Tories."
Anderson hit back, saying: "I told illegal migrants to go back to France not genuine asylum seekers."
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