Crosby accused of racist statements

Australian Lynton Crosby leaving City Hall in London before the result of the Mayorial Election. Source: News Limited

THE Australian political strategist who helped John Howard win four consecutive elections has become embroiled in a race row in London, where he is heading Prime Minister David Cameron's campaign.

Lynton Crosby is accused of saying the Conservative Party should concentrate on traditional voters rather than "f ... ing Muslims" during this year's London mayoral campaign, when he worked for winner Boris Johnson. A spokesman said Mr Crosby had "absolutely no recollection" of using the term.

But Mr Cameron has no intention of changing his mind about appointing the strategist, despite the revelations.

Mr Crosby's outburst came this year as Mr Johnson's aides discussed whether to devote more attention to wooing the ethnic minority vote.

A source 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."

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.

The spokesman said: "It is entirely mischievous to suggest Lynton is racist in any way.

"He campaigned vigorously for the Muslim vote during the mayoral race."

It is not the first time Mr Crosby, 55, has been involved in a row over campaign strategy.

He objected to the way Mr Johnson ordered advertisements to be removed from London buses which stated gays could be converted to heterosexuality.

Sources close to Mr Crosby denied he was opposed to the ads being taken down but he objected to the way the Mayor briefed newspapers without discussing it with him first.

Mr Johnson said he had "no recollection" of being present when Mr Crosby made his comment. He said his election chief was "the soul of sweetness and kindness".

Tory chiefs have just put the finishing touches to a pound stg. 200,000 ($307,400) a year deal whereby Mr Crosby and his Crosby-Textor political polling company will take charge of the next Tory election campaign.

Mr Crosby grew up in Kadina, South Australia and studied economics at the University of Adelaide.  He worked on four successful Howard Government election campaigns between 1996 and 2004.

He was first hired by the UK Conservative Party in 2005 for Michael Howard's unsuccessful election campaign.

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