- guardian.co.uk, Friday July 28 2000 17.08 BST
In a move which was condemned by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, the former Monday Club member John Bercow was given a key slot on the frontbench working alongside Ann Widdecombe.
As a rightwinger in the 1980s Mr Bercow argued for the voluntary repatriation of black and Asian people, the repeal of the Race Relations Act and the abolition of the commission for racial equality.
His promotion overshadowed the appointment of Steve Norris as a Tory vice-chairman in charge of recruiting more people from Britain's ethnic minorities.
His appointment was designed to appeal to voters on the centre ground who were encouraged by his moderate language on race relations during the London mayoral election.
Mr Hague's new home affairs spokesman, who will have a say in the Tories' race relations policies, was secretary to the immigration and repatriation committee of the Monday Club in the early 1980s and wrote up the minutes of a committee meeting which called for voluntary repatriation.
He wrote: "It was formally agreed that the policy of the committee should be: an end to New Commonwealth and Pakistan immigration, a properly financed system of voluntary repatriation, the repeal of the Race Relations Act and the abolition of the commission for racial equality. Particular emphasis on repatriation."
The appointment of the rightwinger was condemned last night by Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, said last night: "John Bercow's appointment to look after the civil liberties of the nation is dangerous and very worrying. A Tory home affairs team led by Ann Widdecombe and with John Bercow following behind is hardly the inheritance of the One Nation tradition."
Mr Bercow last night stood by his comments, saying that he believed at the time that the scale of immigration was "difficult to accommodate". However, he insisted that he no longer supported any of the arguments outlined in his memorandum.
Pointing out that he had only been a member of the Monday Club for 18 months between 1981 and 1983, Mr Bercow said that it was "breathtaking tripe and stupid" to link him with outdated views.
"I was a member of the Monday Club which I left many years ago," he said.
"Senior members of the Labour frontbench were also card-carrying members of CND until recently."
Mr Bercow, an admirer of Enoch Powell, said that he now opposed voluntary repatriation and supported the Race Relations Act and the commission for racial equality. "I believe that in a fair society if you start identifying volunteers to leave that can turn nasty," he said.
Mr Norris, in his new job, will take over responsibility for the Tory culture unit, designed to reach out to members of ethnic minorities.
"Any party that wants to be seen as a truly national party has got to appeal to 100% of the population, be they straight, gay, black or white," he said. "William Hague feels that I can articulate that."
Mr Norris, who will play a central role in the Tories' general election campaign, will have to work with Tim Collins, another vice chairman, who attempted to block him standing as the Tory candidate for London mayor.
