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

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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.

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