'Afzal Amin is what is wrong with elements of the Muslim leadership in Britain'

We have people who really have no interest in the community and are willing to do whatever it takes to further their own careers. Forget fighting the right-wing organisations we had better start by rooting out people like Afzal Amin.

The recordings from the Sunday Mail see him accused of scheming with the EDL to announce an inflammatory march against a new "mega-mosque" in the seat of Dudley North and then take the credit for defusing the tensions.

Today, Mr Amin tried his level best to explain his actions. And this was even more painful listening.

He told Radio 4, "If people do announce that they are going to do an action, and other people disagree with it, then they sit together and they resolve their differences and the action is then stopped; then this helps the communities feel that 'Yes, on the other side there is a working partner we can work with."

Indeed, this all makes sense but the recording has painted a whole other picture. Here was a Muslim man willing to 'stage manage a situation' with an obvious anti-Muslim organisation in the hope that at the end he would come out with a level of respect.

Make sure this all happens a week before the election so that one gets elected and I get people from all sides making me look like some saviour.

In the recording he is also quoted as promising the EDL, "And if I win my election in Parliament, you’ve got a very strong, unshakeable ally who is going to work hard to get you involved in all the institutions of the State and get you the exposure you need and the people in Parliament need to us."

This must be the kind of conflict resolution we all have been waiting for.

There is nothing worse than a wannabe politician finding himself at the bottom of a pit and trying to crawl out of the mud. For a while we listen because we have to but then we have to say enough is enough.

This scandal could not have come at a worst time for the Tories.

Not only do Mr Amin's actions serve to make politicians appear even less trustworthy, but the Conservatives need the ‘Muslim vote’ in particular constituencies and this will cost them not only in Dudley North but across the country.

Mr Amin went to tell Radio 4, "I want to make a robust defence of my actions and I want to assure that party that I am a loyal party member and a party supporter and I look forward to seeing a Conservative victory in May and David Cameron returned as Prime Minister."

Somebody must have forgotten to send him a memo from Tory party headquarters... ’Please don’t mention the PM in any more interviews...please just don’t.’