‘N-word’ Tory MP suspended
THERESA MAY last night suspended a Eurosceptic Tory MP who described leaving the European Union without a deal as the “real n----r in the woodpile”.
The decision means that the Conservatives’ working majority in the House of Commons – which includes backing from the Democratic Unionist Party – falls to 12.
Anne Marie Morris, the MP for Newton Abbot, in Devon, made the remark during a meeting of Eurosceptics. The Prime Minister acted three hours after the comments were published on the Huffington Post’s website.
Mrs May said: “I was shocked to hear of these remarks, which are completely unacceptable. I immediately asked the Chief Whip to suspend the party whip.”
Ms Morris was recorded making the comments at a club in central London as she spoke during a discussion on the potential financial services deal that could be struck after Britain leaves the EU. After suggesting that 7 per cent of financial services in the UK would be
affected by Brexit, she told the audience: “Now I’m sure there will be many people who’ll challenge that, but my response and my request is look at the detail, it isn’t all doom and gloom.
“Now we get to the real n----r in the woodpile which is in two years what if there is no deal?”
Ms Morris, 60, said after the comments were published: “The comment was entirely unintentional. I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused.”
But Conservative colleagues were angered by her remarks. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory MP for Saffron Walden said: “I was shocked and appalled to hear her comment. No one should use that sort of language, let alone an MP. I spoke to the Chief Whip about it as soon as I heard to express my dismay, and I am pleased that decisive action has been taken. Anne Marie’s remarks are an embarrassment to me as a black woman and to the Conservative party. They are not in any way reflective or representative of our values.”
Heidi Allen, Tory MP for South Cambridgeshire, said: “I’m afraid an apology is not good enough – we must show zero tolerance for racism. MPS must lead by example.”
David Isaac, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “This language belongs to another era and it is highly regrettable it is not as instinctively abhorrent to Ms Morris as it is to most people. At a time when we need to heal divisions in our country, using a phrase like this will offend the vast majority of people in the UK.”
Last month, days before the general election, Ms Morris distanced herself from comments made by her partner and agent Roger Kendrick who claimed “that the crisis in education was due entirely to non-british born immigrants and their high birth rates”. The comment was made from the audience at an election hustings. Ms Morris later told a local website: “I don’t share the views expressed by Roger Kendrick.”