The late Cllr Mushtaq Qureshi meeting Nelson Mandela during his1996 state under the suspicious watch of Tory Cllrs

Its bad enough hearing crocodile tears from Prime Minister & Tory Party Leader David Cameron but Cllr Philippa Roe, Leader of Westminster City Council has also got into the act by saying:

“Nelson Mandela was a global icon and loved by millions of people. He had a strong connection with people in Westminster and with Westminster itself. He was the only person still living who had a statue in Parliament Square – a true testament to his unique strength, courage and bravery.”

Whilst she was not on the Council at the time, she should be reminded that when President Mandela made his visit to London in 1996, the then Labour group called a special meeting to award him the Freedom of the City, and the Conservatives voted the motion down precisely on the grounds that he did not have any particular connection to Westminster.

Other councils in the capital including the Corporation of London embarrassed the Westminster Tories at the time by giving Mr Mandela a freedom honour. A spokesman for the Corporation said: “It was a privilege to recognise his service to humanity.”

Furthermore she should be reminded of how obstructive the Council was in putting up the statue of Mandela on the North Terrace of Trafalgar Square in close proximity to the South Africa embassy. And while Parliament Square was the compromise, it would have been so much better on the Square.

So while Madiba tells us to forgive we should not forget.