Nigel 'Enoch' Hastilow is still Tory candidate as Cameron dithers and dithers...

Conservative Party members have declined to accept the resignation of Nigel Hastilow as their parliamentary candidate following the dithering and lack of leadership by David Cameron in the row over the 'Enoch was right' comments.

Almost a fortnight after he apparently resigned, according to the official website for Halesowen and Rowley Regis Conservative Party, the disgraced Mr Hastilow is still their parliamentary candidate.

David Cameron failed to either sack Mr Hastilow or condemn his comments and instead sent Caroline Spelman to have a word with him.

Ms Spelman later admitted on television last Sunday that she tried to persuade Nigel Hastilow to stay on as a Tory candidate - but he resigned.

The Daily Telegraph also reported that Tory High Command tried to keep Mr Hastilow as their candidate, but he resigned after refusing to be gagged.

There's also this Mystery as Party backs Hastilow story in his local paper, the Express & Star.

A week on, Nigel Hastilow's own website also declares that he is the candidate.

In contrast to Cameron's dithering, his predessessor Ted Heath acted decisively and immediately to sack Enoch Powell after his infamous 'rivers of blood' speech which he made to rally Tory support against anti-discrimination legislation brought in by the Labour Government of the day.

Race row Tory says 'no regrets...'

The Tory who says Enoch Powell was right on immigration says he could have remained a Conservative candidate if he had apologised for his remarks.

But Nigel Hastilow has not withdrawn his comments and has resigned rather than apologise. Tonight he told the BBC he has 'no regrets'.

Earlier, his local Conservative Association chairman said he had done nothing wrong.

All of which says much about David Cameron's lack of leadership and failure to change the values of rank and file Conservatives.

Last time Nigel Hastilow hit the headlines was when he wrote on his website that the Conservative Party was a "lost cause".

He was right then.

He's wrong now.

Tory candidate resigns over Enoch remarks...but questions remain

I see a Tory parliamentary candidate in the West Midlands has been forced to resign this afternoon after suggesting that Enoch Powell was right in his infamous 'Rivers of Blood' speech.

While David Cameron may claim that he is changing the Conservative Party, this story demonstrates that the grassroots of the Tory Party haven't changed.

Same old Nasty Party.

Two questions:

1. Why did David Cameron not sack Nigel Hastilow immediately for unacceptable comments rather than dither for 24 hours?

2. Why has David Cameron not condemned Nigel Hastilow's comments?