differing with Mandela

I don't think there's much I would differ on with Nelson Mandela.

But I have to take issue with the great man's reaction to the recent incident of the Tory councillor in Brent who thought it was acceptable to blacken his face and wear a badge declaring himself to be "Councillor Nelson Mandela".

This followed hard on the heels of Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a former Army Colonel, being sacked from his party's front bench for these comments: "If you'd said to them [black soldiers he commanded], 'have you ever been called a nigger?' they would have said 'yes'... that's the way it is in the army. If someone is slow on the assault course, you'd get people shouting 'come on you fat bastard, come on you ginger bastard, come on you black bastard.'"

Cllr Brian Gordon's actions show at best a lack of judgement and at worst the lack of respect that can lead to racism.

Now Mandela's spokesman has reportedly said: "We shouldn't be over sensitive about issues of this nature. Mr Mandela thought it was quite funny. In no way the character was harmed of Nelson Mandela. We can't find anything derogatory in someone dressing up, in fancy dress, portraying Nelson Mandela."

It's a gracious view entirely in keeping with Mandela's forgiving character, but it must be said it ignores the message that Cllr Gordon was, knowingly or unknowingly, sending out about black and minority ethnic people by relegating an iconic black leader to the realms of a fancy dress joke. Cllr Gordon has said: "I am amazed that one or two people are becoming so worked up over a fancy dress outfit that was no more than a piece of harmless fun."

Harmless fun? As Labour MP for Tooting Sadiq Khan said recently: "Anybody who understands racism knows it is a broad spectrum of things. It starts with ridicule and ends with people dying because of the colour of their skin."

What can't be denied or excused, even by the greatest and best of human beings, is that there remain deep-seated problems of acceptance and opportunity for black people living in modern Britain, which is why the Tories should not be allowed to get away with this councillor's behaviour. An example must be made. He should be sacked.

Let's not forget that this is the same Tory party whose leader said last year: "I want our new councillors and council candidates to lead the fightback against racism and division." So Cameron is either out of synch or out of touch with his party. Or out to lunch along with his PR gurus.