There has been plenty of chatter recently about the role of Conservative Party Chairman with lots of backbenchers suggesting that a stronger single figure, from the Commons, needs to replace the current Warsi/Feldman double act. Well it seems someone close to Warsi isn’t going to take this lying down…

Former Indy deputy editor Ian Birrell was at one time a candidate for Craig Oliver’s job and is well plugged in with the Cameroons. His column in the Guardian today rallies against “frothing” Tea Party Tories. It’s telling that not one of these alleged agitators is named, but one comment in particular will jar with already irritated troops:

“Just as the Tea Party attacks on Obama tip over into racism, so we see the same thing with Sayeeda,” said one key insider. “It doesn’t smell quite right, and wouldn’t be happening if she were a white man.”

Tories don’t like Warsi because she’s terrible in the media, does not represent the views of the backbenchers and is seen as a leadership puppet rather than a strong fighter. Not because she is a woman and a Muslim. If this card is Warsi fighting back for her job then it perfectly sums up the problem.