Duncan Smith admits multicultural failings

Iain Duncan Smith admitted last night that the Tories had a long way to go to reflect multicultural Britain and vowed he "would not rest" until more ethnic-minority candidates were selected to stand for parliament.

The Tory leader said he wanted his party to reflect as broad a spectrum of society as possible in a speech at the British Asian Conservative Link annual dinner in north London. In an apparent rebuke to David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, and his demands that Asians should speak English at home, Mr Duncan Smith also said his party respected different traditions and ways of life of ethnic communities.

The Asian community and the Tory party had much in common, including a strong belief in family values and the work ethic, he said. Most of the Shadow Cabinet, inclu-ding Theresa May, the party chairman, were at the dinner.