Italian row Tory is re-instated

Alun Cairns has apologised for making the comments

A Conservative politician who likened Italians to "greasy wops" during a BBC radio show has been reinstated as a general election candidate.

Alun Cairns, a Welsh assembly member, was suspended from the position of the Vale of Glamorgan candidate.

But on Wednesday, he was re-instated and also appointed as the party's local government spokesman in the assembly.

Mr Cairns said he was pleased the issue was resolved and hoped people would now "judge me on my actions".

He resigned as education spokesman and chair of the assembly's finance committee in June after apologising for "inappropriate comments".

Mr Cairns likened Italians to "greasy wops" in a radio discussion on Euro 2008.

His general election candidacy was suspended while the Conservative Party held an investigation into the comments.

Following the news that he was a candidate and party spokesman again, Mr Cairns said: "I am pleased this issue has been resolved and hope people will now judge me on my actions.

"I know I have a huge amount of work to do in the Vale of Glamorgan and look forward to working with the community to explain how Conservative policies can make a positive difference to their lives.

"I am also looking forward to resuming frontbench duties in the assembly and to holding the Labour-Plaid Cymru (assembly) government to account for the woefully inadequate way in which it is funding councils across Wales next year."

'Nasty party'

Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne said Mr Cairns was "a politician of considerable experience and talent who has the respect and confidence of assembly colleagues and the wider party".

Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan praised Mr Cairns for having "a proven track record of getting things done".

"He has worked tirelessly in the Vale of Glamorgan and the national assembly to serve the interests of local people," she said.

But a Labour spokesperson said the decision "shows the true face of the Conservative Party under David Cameron, which is the same old nasty party we know them to be".

"Cameron is incapable of taking tough decisions - as this decision proves," he said .