A feud erupted today over the appointment of Boris Johnson’s strategy guru to run David Cameron’s 2015 election campaign.
Australian strategist Lynton Crosby is set to start work at the Conservative party’s headquarters early next year.
But his appointment was attacked today by billionaire Tory donor and former party treasurer Lord Ashcroft, who launched a thinly veiled online attack on Mr Crosby.
The news that Mr Crosby will take charge of the Tory campaign caused an immediate row this week after it was claimed he used the phrase “f***ing Muslims” during this year’s London mayoral race.
And the Standard yesterday revealed that Mr Crosby considered some of Mr Johnson’s aides “f***wits” during that election campaign.
In an internet posting titled “A seven-point campaign memo for Lynton Crosby”, Tory peer Lord Ashcroft today gives his tips for success against Labour’s Ed Miliband.
But in a stinging attack he suggests that Mr Crosby’s appointment will only make the problems in the Conservative party worse. Lord Ashcroft had previously warned Mr Cameron against employing the Australian, who masterminded both of Mr Johnson’s mayoral victories.
Apparently referring to the alleged “f***ing Muslims” comment, Lord Ashcroft writes: “I know you understand as much as anyone that it’s never a good thing when the adviser is the story. That being the case, I’m sure you’ll get on with the job and stay out of the limelight.” And he adds on the ConservativeHome website: “No doubt have more to say.”
Mr Crosby, known as a master of the political dark arts, has said he has “absolutely no recollection” of using the term “f***ing Muslims”.
In the memo, Lord Ashcroft also tells Mr Crosby: “Re-establishing ourselves as the party of aspiration does not mean presenting ourselves as the party of rugged individualism.”
Mr Crosby has been accused by critics of focusing only on core Tory voters and ignoring the wider electorate.
Lord Ashcroft adds: “To win a majority, we need to attract people who thought about voting Conservative in 2010 but decided against it.”
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It comes as a former campaign insider today told how Mr Crosby’s planning meetings for the Boris campaign were “profanity-led”. The insider, who did not wish to be named, added. “Lynton had a tendency to go off swearing even over the smallest, most minute problem.”
But former Conservative leader Lord Howard, who first hired the Australian to run the 2005 Tory election campaign, praised Mr Crosby.
“He is a superb organiser and strategist and I cannot speak too highly of him,” Lord Howard said. “If we had hired him sooner, we would probably have done better.”
