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Tory candidate in immigration row Migration row Tory to be quizzed
(about 3 hours later)
A Conservative candidate has been summoned to a meeting with the party chairman after declaring that Enoch Powell was "right" on immigration. The Conservative party chairman is to seek an explanation later from a candidate who declared that Enoch Powell was "right" on immigration.
Nigel Hastilow, who will contest Halesowen and Rowley Regis, made the comments in a newspaper column.Nigel Hastilow, who will contest Halesowen and Rowley Regis, made the comments in a newspaper column.
Mr Powell was sacked from the shadow cabinet after a controversial speech in 1968 against uncontrolled immigration. The chairman of the local Conservative Association said Mr Hastilow was "relaying the views of the public".
Enoch Powell was sacked from the shadow cabinet after a controversial speech in 1968 against uncontrolled immigration.
A Tory spokesman said candidates of all parties should take "great care" when discussing immigration.A Tory spokesman said candidates of all parties should take "great care" when discussing immigration.
He added that Mr Hastilow "will be told this in clear terms" during the meeting with party chairman Caroline Spelman in London on Sunday.He added that Mr Hastilow "will be told this in clear terms" during the meeting with party chairman Caroline Spelman in London on Sunday.
Comments defended 'Red carpet'
But Mary Docker, chairwoman of Mr Hastilow's local Conservative association, said she did not think he had done anything wrong.
She told BBC News 24: "He's basically just raising issues that have been raised with him when he has been canvassing the area.
"All he is doing is just relaying the views of the public, which is what a politician should do."
Mrs Docker said she did not think his comments should threaten his candidacy.
The Conservative hopeful made the comments in a column for the Express and Star newspaper in Wolverhampton - where Mr Powell had been the MP at the time of his 1968 speech.The Conservative hopeful made the comments in a column for the Express and Star newspaper in Wolverhampton - where Mr Powell had been the MP at the time of his 1968 speech.
The candidate wrote: "When you ask most people in the Black Country what the single biggest problem facing the country is, most say immigration.The candidate wrote: "When you ask most people in the Black Country what the single biggest problem facing the country is, most say immigration.
This is the last thing David Cameron wanted Guto HarriBBC Political Correspondent He's basically just raising issues that have been raised with him when he has been canvassing the area Mary DockerConstituency association chairwoman
"Many insist: 'Enoch Powell was right'. Enoch, once MP for Wolverhampton South-West, was sacked from the Conservative front bench and marginalised politically for his 1968 'rivers of blood' speech, warning that uncontrolled immigration would change our country irrevocably."Many insist: 'Enoch Powell was right'. Enoch, once MP for Wolverhampton South-West, was sacked from the Conservative front bench and marginalised politically for his 1968 'rivers of blood' speech, warning that uncontrolled immigration would change our country irrevocably.
"He was right. It has changed dramatically.""He was right. It has changed dramatically."
Mr Hastilow also wrote: "They have more or less given up complaining about the way we roll out the red carpet for foreigners while leaving the locals to fend for themselves."Mr Hastilow also wrote: "They have more or less given up complaining about the way we roll out the red carpet for foreigners while leaving the locals to fend for themselves."
Public views
But Mary Docker, chairwoman of Mr Hastilow's local Conservative association, said she did not think he had done anything wrong.
She told BBC News 24: "He's basically just raising issues that have been raised with him when he has been canvassing the area.
"All he is doing is just relaying the views of the public, which is what a politician should do."
Mrs Docker said she did not think his comments should threaten his candidacy.
BBC Political Correspondent Guto Harri said: "This is the last thing David Cameron wanted."BBC Political Correspondent Guto Harri said: "This is the last thing David Cameron wanted."
He said "there is a debate to be had" on the issue, but the Conservative leader would not want his party to be associated with the tone used by the party's candidate in a key Midlands seat.He said "there is a debate to be had" on the issue, but the Conservative leader would not want his party to be associated with the tone used by the party's candidate in a key Midlands seat.
Meanwhile, Labour has called for Mr Hastilow to be sacked over the "unacceptable" comments.Meanwhile, Labour has called for Mr Hastilow to be sacked over the "unacceptable" comments.