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."

View the Original article

The man David Cameron has picked to head his election campaign once launched a foul-mouthed rant against Muslims.

Outspoken Australian "fixer" Lynton Crosby used the phrase "f****** Muslims" in a diatribe while working for London Mayor Boris Johnson.

But No 10 officials said the Prime Minister has no intention of changing his mind about appointing the strategist, despite the new revelations.

Mr Crosby's outburst came earlier this year as Mr Johnson's aides discussed whether to devote more attention to wooing the ethnic minority vote in his battle with Labour's Ken Livingstone.

According to a source, Mr Crosby said Mr Johnson should concentrate on traditional Tory voters instead of "f****** Muslims". The source added: "He definitely used that phrase" and said: "Lynton's view was that chasing the Muslim vote and other ethnic groups was a waste of time – and he frequently expressed himself in very strong terms. Some people found it very offensive."

In a statement last night a spokesman for Mr Crosby said he had "absolutely no recollection" of using the term. His allies claimed Mr Crosby was the victim of a dirty tricks plot by Tory enemies to stop him taking charge of campaigns at Conservative HQ.

Mr Johnson last night said he had "no recollection" of being present when Mr Crosby made his "f****** Muslims" comment. He said his election chief was "the soul of sweetness and kindness". And the Mayor urged Mr Cameron not to reverse his decision to put Mr Crosby in charge of his election campaign.

Mail on Sunday, 18 November 2012

View the Original article