Praise for former Rhodesian leader » Local Government » 24dash.com

A Tory councillor came under fire tonight for praising former Rhodesian prime minister Ian Smith as a "great and wise" leader.

Richard Willis - a member of Reading Borough Council and aide to local MP Rob Wilson - insisted Mr Smith's white minority government had been "benign and successful".

The death of 88-year-old Mr Smith, who was regarded by many as a white supremacist, was announced yesterday.

In spite of international sanctions and opprobrium, he held power for 14 years after illegally declaring independence from Britain in the 1960s.

When he was finally overthrown in 1979 following a bitter civil war with black nationalists, Robert Mugabe took control, leading to the creation of Zimbabwe.

In comments added to the politicalbetting.com website, Mr Willis defended Mr Smith's record and insisted there was nothing "inherently evil" about the all-white administration.

"I refuse to submit to the prevalent ideology that a government that delivers stability and economic success is inherently evil just because the elite were of a racial minority," he wrote. "Rhodesia was the breadbasket for southern Africa under his wise leadership."

The statements, penned under the tag "Rik W", drew a furious reaction from other users, who condemned him for supporting a "vile white supremacist".

However, Mr Willis derided the criticism as "silly leftist responses".

He told Press Association tonight that he stood by the comments.

Although apartheid was "indefensible", Smith's Rhodesian Front had been "infinitely" preferable to Mugabe's regime.

"You cannot judge Governments of the past by 21st century standards. Ian Smith led a Government that actually had people migrating to the country," Mr Willis said.

Lib Dem MP Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam) said the remarks proved that David Cameron had not succeeded in reforming the Tories.

"This shows the underlying nasty side of Conservative party," he added.

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