Every day a politician somewhere wishes that they kept quiet. Richard Willis, the Conservative Councillor for Peppard Ward is certainly among them. He unwisely described the late Ian Smith’s white minority regime that ruled Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as “benign and successful” and “not inherantly evil”.

Councillor Willis had been thought by many council watchers as the leading contender to replace fellow Rhodisia apologist Fred Pugh as leader of the Conservative Group on Reading Borough Council. Now all bets are off. Cllr Willis, who is rather pompously described as “Chief of Staff” for Rob Wilson MP, is, for the moment at least, no longer carrying Rob’s bag. Mr Wilson, acting with his usual instinct for self-preservation, suspended Mr Willis and announced an enquiry that “could go on until Christmas”. By announcing a lengthy investigation Mr Wilson, gets himself off the hook, puts the story on ice and gives the Tory Party, for which Mr Willis is on the parlimentary candidates list, some breathing space. Neat move Rob – exactly the same sort of neat move for which  David Cameron has been quick to critise Gordon Brown.

Nonetheless the Reading public has a right to ask why on earth should such a matter take so long to investigate? The reported evidence is there for all to see. 1. Cllr Willis published his views on a website. 2. Cllr Willis dismissed the criticism of his views on the same site (rather than taking the opportunity to ‘clarify’ his remarks). 3. Cllr Willis stood by his views in ‘The Times’ no less (25 Nov), defending and expanding his position. 4. Cllr Willis, in something of a hole, finally put down his shovel when it became clear that his employer was about to hang him out to dry. Cllr Willis is certainly guilty of that most damming political sin – incompetance.

Did he think nobody would notice his comments? Did he not understand that his words would be seen as racist? Did he not get it that they would cause embarrasment for his party? Did he not foresee that his opposition would make hay? Did he not comprehend that it would become a national story? Did he not realise that the actions of a “Chief of Staff” reflect on his employer?  Doesn’t he get it that there are certain things a politician can’t defend? Nobody would try to argue that Hitler had a good side because he was a vegetarian. Didn’t Richard Willis see that in the same way defending Smith IS defending Apartheid. Yes, Mugabe IS mad and his regime IS evil and vile, but two wrong’s don’t make a right. Smith’s denial of democratic rights to 95% of the population cannot be excused by what followed – in fact it contributed to what followed.

Will Rob Wilson persist with someone of such poor judgement as his “Chief of Staff”? Will the Conservatives remove Cllr Willis from their Parliamentary panel? It’s a real test for both the Mr Wilson and David Cameron.
Whether the Conservatives in Reading attempt to rehabilitate Cllr Willis or treat him as damaged goods remains to be seen. He is seen by Labour Councillors as a Tory Tony Page – strong on rhetorical performance, in command of his brief and unfeasibly tall! His ambition to lead his group was always likely to be opposed. Caversham Councillor Andrew Cumpsty is also a serious contender. By contrast to Willis, Cllr Cumpsty is rather wooden in the Council chamber but thought to be more shrewd, more of a pragmatist and altogher more rounded than Cllr Willis. Though Cllr Cumpsty would, like any good party loyalist, deny taking pleasure in the ineptitude of Richard Willis, he is undoubtedly the main beneficiary.