Cameron and mayor row over 'Tebbit test'

David Cameron and Ken Livingstone have exchanged sharp words over how to deal with the issue of race and multiculturalism.

The Conservative leader said the London mayor was debating the issue in "old Marxist cliches".

His comments came after Livingstone's recent suggestion that remarks by Trevor Phillips, head of the Commission for Racial Equality, criticising cultural separateness had "gone so far over to the other side that I expect soon he'll be joining the BNP".

Cameron said on Wednesday night: "Insulting Trevor by saying he should join the BNP isn't a serious contribution to debate.

"It's a discreditable attempt by an ageing far left politician to hang on to a narrative about race that sees people from ethnic minorities as potential agents of revolutionary change."

He said that ethnic minorities should be seen as "full and equal citizens who would rather build a better life for themselves and their families than man the barricades at the behest of middle class white fantasists".

But Livingstone said: "Multiculturalism has produced unparalleled choice for London's citizens and good relations between its communities - shown in the 40 per cent reduction in racist attacks from an already low level over the last six years.

"This therefore very helpfully clarifies matters that Mr Cameron has made explicit his opposition to multiculturalism.

"Every member of an ethnic minority, of any income, class or creed, now knows that they are expected by him and his colleagues to abandon their cultural identity to be really considered British citizens. It is simply a softer version of the 'Tebbit test'."

That remark referred to former Conservative chairman Lord Tebbit's famous suggestion that ethnic minorities should only be considered British if they supported the England cricket team rather than that of their family's origin.