JOHN Townend made overtly racist comments on immigration which plunged his party into crisis only days before the General Election campaign.

And yet, with the blessing of his party leader, he will be able enjoy all the privileges of being a Conservative MP for the remainder of his ill-starred parliamentary career.

Lord John Taylor was offended, like the vast majority of right-minded people, by Mr Townend's remarks and called for his expulsion from the party.

And yet, on the orders of the party leader, Lord Taylor faces the risk of expulsion unless he puts his name to an open letter re-affirming his support for the Conservatives.

William Hague may profess that he is taking tough and decisive action on the issue of racism. We do not agree.

To do anything else but drum Mr Townend out of the party is an act of weakness.

To issue a thinly disguised ultimatum to Lord Taylor is an act of folly.

While Mr Townend apologised yesterday for his controversial remarks about race, he did so only after being told by Mr Hague to do so, or be thrown out of the Conservative Party.

Many people may have cause to question the sincerity of his apology and his apparent embrace of mainstream Tory policies on race and immigration.

Mr Townend may have withdrawn his remarks, but the depth of anger and outrage at them remains.

Mr Hague was right to condemn Mr Townend's remarks as soon as they were uttered. But he was wrong to take the matter no further, thereby encouraging Mr Townend to make more inflammatory remarks.

It should have been made plain weeks ago that there was no place for him, or anyone else sharing his views, in the Conservative Party.

Instead, Mr Hague issued little more than a rebuke yesterday, in the hope that the matter will be swept under the carpet ahead of the General Election.

While Mr Townend's thoughts on race will not merit a place during the election debate, Mr Hague's role in the affair will.

Mr Townend will soon disappear into the obscurity where he belongs. His contribution in history will amount to little more than a few brief moments of notoriety.

Mr Hague's has some time to wait before history's verdict on his leadership skills and judgement in handling his errant backbencher.

The electorate's verdict will come much sooner.