You are here: Home » News »

Lynton Crosby ‘f****** Muslims’ row escalates, as he’s accused of saying ‘Let’s put a rag round the battle bus’

November 25, 2012 10:47 am

Author:

Share this Article

The Tory party is rowing over Lynton Crosby again, with the Mail on Sunday poring over allegations that the Australian strategist may have used some (at best) racially charged language, including an allegation that Crosby said ‘Let’s put a rag round the battle bus’ – referring to a Muslim headscarf. But the most remarkable and disturbing quote in their report comes from former Tory peer (now a crossbencher) Shreela Flather, who is quoted as saying:

“I don’t condone swearing, but Lynton is right to say it is pointless for the Conservatives to chase Muslim votes. They are all on benefits and all vote Labour.”

Elsewhere in the piece, the battle between Crosby and Lord Ashcroft rages on, with Ashcroft being overheard making the following comments:

“The danger is that other people will see it as racist…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. When I heard about Mr Crosby’s comment, I was sorely tempted to send him a list of nine Muslims who have won the Victoria Cross fighting for this country.”

It’s quite possible that these comments were overheard. Evidently someone present at the event had excellent hearing, and possibly a notepad. And evidently Lord Ashcroft speaks in well polished press copy when he’s speaking to friends. Evidently…

No public spat here. No sir, nothing to see here…

Update: In the original version of this post I stated that Flather was a Tory peer (as reported by the Mail on Sunday). However, she does appear to now sit as a crossbencher.

Related posts:

  1. Why I’m sending out Lynton Crosby’s emails
  2. Tories accused of “desperate lies” over tax claim
  3. What about domestic terrorism against Muslims?
  4. Osborne loses (one of) his jobs – this is the man who will replace him
  5. Peter Hain accused of contempt of court
  • NT86

    She also said this about Nigerian men last year: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2042195/Baroness-Shreela-Flather-says-Nigerian-men-4-wives-theyre-lazy.html

    Also, I believe Shreela Flather is now a crossbencher in Lords. Interestingly she is a Humanist.

    Most Muslims (ditto for BME communities in general) have voted Labour, but the Lib Dems managed to pick up votes from them in 2005 and 2010. Plus the Tories have a small number of Muslim-origin MPs and of course Baroness Warsi as a minister at the moment.

    Technically the Tories wouldn’t need to win a majority with the assistance of Muslim or other minority votes. Even Grant Shapps spoke of a 40-40 strategy in that they’re simply going after 40 marginals held by Labour or Lib Dems, as well trying to hold 40 of their most vulnerable seats. Having Lynton Crosby could go either way, but it really depends of how the economy does until early 2015. It might suggest that the party is lurching to the right given that it is Crosby. Also one has to see the extent to which UKIP acts as a splitter in the Tory vote. The they could outperform the Lib Dems in many seats.

  • BR83

    Shreela Flather left the Conservative party in 2008, but when did you ever let the facts get in the way of your shoddy journalism?

    • markfergusonuk

      You mean the Mail on Sunday’s shoddy journalism. I corrected this piece before you even commented, the Mail on Sunday’s piece is still incorrect. I suggest you take your indignation elsewhere…

  • Dave Postles

    Coulson – Crosby. Cameron has no sense of propriety.

  • 2stcenturytruth

    The Romney 47% moment. Use it. Be certain aggressive cries will be made against the party like ‘You do not want to return to the people who got us in this mess’. The reply: it was the bankers who probably vote Tory who created the world crisis’. No room for pussyfooting and gentle shaking of head. Labour must be as aggressive and focused as Obama and Biden. The Conservatives will throw the kitchen sink be certain.

  • Pingback: Controversial Crosby – Did He Say the ‘F’ Word or Didn’t He? | ukgovernmentwatch

Latest

  • Comment Planning the revolution – Labour and the Spending Review

    Planning the revolution – Labour and the Spending Review

    By David Robinson

    In four weeks time the Chancellor will announce the results of the 2015 spending Review. There won’t be many winners but some will have lost more than others. Political commentators and discussion forums will pass judgement and public sector managers will, yet again, pick through the debris, making do and mending from what ever they can salvage. Before we get overtaken by the detail we should reflect on the bigger picture. What ever the chancellor says on June 26th it [...]

    Read more →
  • Comment A call for action at the G8

    A call for action at the G8

    By Ivan Lewis

    In less than a month’s time, the UK hosts the G8 Summit. With hunger, tax, trade and transparency all on the agenda, the UK has a unique opportunity to show global leadership on these issues. The scale of hunger is devastating. There is enough food in the world for everyone, yet 1 billion people still go hungry. 2.3 million children every year die from malnutrition – to put that in perspective, that is around 16,000 children every day. Or one [...]

    Read more →
  • News TUC suggests Football World Cup vote should be re-run – Media roundup: May 24th, 2013

    TUC suggests Football World Cup vote should be re-run – Media roundup: May 24th, 2013

    Subscribers to our morning email get the best of LabourList – including the Media and blog round up – every weekday morning. If you were a subscriber you would have already received this in your inbox. You can sign up here. TUC suggests Football World Cup vote should be re-run “The TUC along with its international equivalent – the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) – is calling on UEFA to address the appalling treatment of workers and players in Qatar and [...]

    Read more →
  • Featured A Northern Tory that Labour should be afraid of

    A Northern Tory that Labour should be afraid of

    By Mark Ferguson

    The Labour Party spends a great deal of time beating itself up over its performance in Southern England. We know it simply isn’t good enough, but we can’t seem to put our finger on why exactly that’s the case. Is it demographics? No. Culture? Perhaps. Lack of basic party organisation in some areas? It’s certainly a factor. But whilst we’re flagellating ourselves over our inability to perform south of the Watford gap (outside of London), we should remember that the [...]

    Read more →
  • Comment Featured Why we love Woolwich

    Why we love Woolwich

    By Jon Wilson

    Woolwich is an amazing place. It’s where the Labour party was founded as a mass membership organization. The Woolwich Provident was one of Britain’s first building societies. The Royal Arsenal Coop one of our first cooperative societies. Woolwich had the second Polytechnic in the country, created with the aim of providing education for working adults. Woolwich is my nearest big town centre, where I shop and go to meet friends. In the last few days, for many people, its name [...]

    Read more →