David Davis was forced to distance himself yesterday from the author of a book on immigration which has been branded as "racist".

The shadow home secretary had been due to chair the book launch of former Home Office official Steve Moxon but he failed to show.

Moxon lost his job after revealing failings in the immigration system that led to the minister Beverley Hughes resigning.

His book, The Great Immigration Scandal, claims the term "paki" is not racist; predicts immigration leading to Ulster-style civil war; and argues that Asians are more likely to be organised criminals.

A Conservative spokesman said: "David Davis had agreed to go provisionally and talk in favour of Steve as a whistleblower. But that was before he saw the contents of the book. He then felt unable to attend."