By Mike McNabb
Time was when you could depend on a Conservative, often one with associations with Wolverhampton South West, to make some sweeping statement about race.
Crass "jokes" about Chinese cockle pickers apart, the modern-day Tory leaders seem to have either gagged the so-called libertarian right (a misnomer if ever there were one) or they have accepted society for what it is.
Then, like the proverbial number 11 bus, three "free-thinkers" come along at once. One of them, London mayor Boris Johnson, has a history of offending ethnic minorities and his latest action is not directed at any group in particular. But more about that and him later.
The names of the other two, I confess, were new to me.
So first let me present you to Lucy Ivimy, who sits on Hammersmith and Fulham Council in west London. She has had to apologise for remarks that immigrants - namely Indians - were the cause of a litter problem on a Shepherds Bush housing estate.
Her opinions were communicated in what she described as a "private" e-mail but the details leaked out. Now she says her comments were "ill-advised" and admits she has no idea who the culprits were.
If indeed she had no idea who was responsible for the litter, what made her single out a particular group of people? Or is it something ingrained in the Tory psyche? What we do know is that she is continuing as a representative for Ravenscourt Park ward.
Now, here's South Wales West's Conservative Welsh assembly member, Alun Cairns. While taking part in a discussion about the Euro 2008 football championships on Radio Cymru, Cairns, in an attempt at humour, described the Italian side as "greasy wops".
Cairns has since been suspended as the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for West Glamorgan and has resigned his posts in the Welsh assembly.
But the damage has been done to the Welsh community of Italian background. Moreover, Cairns was seen as a rising star in the Tory rank and file and was tipped for a future in Westminster. We will wait to see whether he does indeed get his seat.
Boris Johnson needs no introduction. His latest dalliance with the Tory psyche involved rebranding a music festival in London whose name included a strong anti-racism message. Mayor Johnson's contribution was to remove that anti-racism message.
It is superbly bad timing, even by Johnson's supreme standards. Only last month London elected its first British National Party member to its assembly.
How Richard Barnbrook must be enjoying this.
How worrying if the nation elects the new caring, compassionate Conservative Party in 2010.
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