Although William Hague has rebuked John Townend for the speech in support of the Tory candidate in East Yorkshire on March 16th, Diana Wallis, who has seen a copy of the speech and who first demanded action from William Hague to censure John Townend, says that the Tory leader himself instigated the MP's comments.
"At Harrogate Mr Hague opened up a Pandora's Box giving oxygen to the racist and homophobic element in the Tory Party.
"Linked to this a couple of questions come to mind: Did the Tory party in East Yorkshire sit through this speech and warmly applaud and then put their hands in their pockets for Mr Townend? And what of the hapless Tory candidate who hopes to follow John Townend to Westminster? Clearly he supported the racist tone otherwise he would have condemned it in the same way his Party leader did eventually."
