Lord Ashcroft: 'Muslim is a religion not a race'David Cameron's controversial new campaign chief, Lynton Crosby, was in a fresh row last night after a leading Tory peer said his foul-mouthed rant against Muslims could be seen as "racist".

Former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft told friends that outspoken Australian Mr Crosby's remark about "f****** Muslims" was a major error of judgment.

"The danger is that other people will see it as racist," Lord Ashcroft was heard to comment at the Spectator magazine parliamentary awards lunch at The Savoy in London. "Some people may assume he means effing Muslims, effing blacks and all effing immigrants and will not appreciate that Muslim is a religion not a race."

Mail on Sunday, 25 November 2012

The Mail also reveals that during Boris Johnson's mayoral election campaign "Mr Crosby reportedly joked: 'Let's put a rag round the battle bus' – referring to a Muslim headscarf."

Thanks to Lord Ashcroft's clarification, those of us who might otherwise be inclined to regard this "joke" as racist too can now see that it is nothing of the sort.

Crosby does have his admirers, though. On-and-off Tory (but currently crossbench) baroness Shreela Flather is quoted by the Mail as saying: "Lynton is right to say it is pointless for the Conservatives to chase Muslim votes. They are all on benefits and all vote Labour."

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The far-right English Defence League (EDL) and counter protesters say they will still demonstrate in Walthamstow this weekend despite police attempts to ban all marches.

The Met Police announced yesterday (Tuesday October 23) it had applied to the Home Secretary to prohibit marches and processions in east London after receiving intelligence that there could be "serious public disorder, violence and damage".

The government is yet to make a decision but it is expected they will agree.

However the EDL said on its website it will hold a static protest instead to get around a ban and has urged supporters to descend on Walthamstow this Saturday (October 27).

Counter protest groups Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and We Are Waltham Forest have both said they will also hold a static protest in Walthamstow town centre.

A council-organised community funday celebrating the borough's diversity is still scheduled to go ahead on Saturday in Walthamstow town centre.

Waltham Forest Guardian, 24 October 2012

See also Murad Qureshi's blog, 24 October 2012

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Tensions could rise in the community if far-right group the English Defence League (EDL) is allowed to march through Walthamstow, critics claim. Both the Waltham Forest Anti-Cuts Union and Trades Council have criticised plans posted online for an EDL demonstration in the area on Saturday August 18.

The EDL, which describes itself as an "inclusive movement" opposed to Islamic extremism, denies being a racist organisation. But a spokesman for the WF Trades Council said: "There is no other reason that this organisation should come to Waltham Forest other than to seek to divide our multicultural community and to incite racial tension". He added that plans were underway for an alternative 'We Are Waltham Forest' event on the same day, designed to celebrate the borough's multiculturalism.

Last September Waltham Forest was one of five London boroughs where marches were temporarily banned by the government, following concerns about a proposed EDL march in Tower Hamlets. At the time, police said they had "specific intelligence" which suggested that the EDL demo could potentially result in "serious public disorder, violence and damage".

A Met spokeswoman said: "Police are aware that EDL plan to hold a demonstration and an appropriate policing plan will be in place."

East London and West Essex Guardian, 17 May 2012

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