Lee Anderson’s f-word outburst is a low point in the history of political profanity

From Churchill’s ‘KBO’ imperative to the ‘Shackleton of naughty words’, Sean O’Grady gives us a primer on politics and vulgarity

‘30p Lee’ Anderson says migrants can ‘f*** off back to France’ (UK parliament/AFP via Getty)

Lee Anderson, the unlikely deputy chair of the Conservative Party, is in the news again for saying that any asylum seekers who are reluctant to live in fetid, overcrowded, dangerous conditions on a modern-day prison hulk waiting to become the next Grenfell can “f*** off back to France” if they don’t like it.

There are some that are offended by the sentiment, others by the swearing, and yet more by both. It isn’t so much “dog-whistle” politics but megaphone messaging. Opinions are divided on whether what Anderson’s colleague, the justice secretary, Alex Chalk, calls “salty” and “robust” language actually works for politicians in any case.