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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Top Tory axed over Army race row | Top Tory axed over Army race row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Tory MP has been forced to quit his frontbench role after making comments on race in the Army which party leader David Cameron called "unacceptable". | A Tory MP has been forced to quit his frontbench role after making comments on race in the Army which party leader David Cameron called "unacceptable". |
| Shadow homeland security spokesman Patrick Mercer said he had met "a lot" of "idle and useless" ethnic minority soldiers who used racism as a "cover". | Shadow homeland security spokesman Patrick Mercer said he had met "a lot" of "idle and useless" ethnic minority soldiers who used racism as a "cover". |
| The former officer also told the Times that being called a "black bastard" was a normal part of Army life. | The former officer also told the Times that being called a "black bastard" was a normal part of Army life. |
| But Mr Mercer later said he "deeply" regretted any "offence" he had caused. | But Mr Mercer later said he "deeply" regretted any "offence" he had caused. |
| 'Way it is' | 'Way it is' |
| However some of Mr Mercer's local constituency colleagues have rallied to support him, with one saying David Cameron's reaction had been in "haste". | |
| Of the English-born black men he knew in the Army, Mr Mercer told the Times: "They prospered inside my regiment, but if you'd said to them: 'Have you ever been called a nigger,' they would have said: 'Yes.' | |
| "But equally, a chap with red hair, for example, would also get a hard time - a far harder time than a black man, in fact." | "But equally, a chap with red hair, for example, would also get a hard time - a far harder time than a black man, in fact." |
| What I have said is clearly misjudged and I can only apologise if I have embarrassed in any way those fine men whom I commanded Patrick MercerConservative MP Send us your reaction | What I have said is clearly misjudged and I can only apologise if I have embarrassed in any way those fine men whom I commanded Patrick MercerConservative MP Send us your reaction |
| Mr Mercer, MP for Newark, added: "But that's the way it is in the Army. If someone is slow on the assault course, you'd get people shouting: 'Come on you fat bastard, come on you ginger bastard, come on you black bastard.'" | Mr Mercer, MP for Newark, added: "But that's the way it is in the Army. If someone is slow on the assault course, you'd get people shouting: 'Come on you fat bastard, come on you ginger bastard, come on you black bastard.'" |
| He also said: "I came across a lot of ethnic minority soldiers who were idle and useless, but who used racism as cover for their misdemeanours. | He also said: "I came across a lot of ethnic minority soldiers who were idle and useless, but who used racism as cover for their misdemeanours. |
| "I remember one guy from St Ann's (Nottingham) who was constantly absent and who had a lot of girlfriends. | "I remember one guy from St Ann's (Nottingham) who was constantly absent and who had a lot of girlfriends. |
| "When he came back one day I asked him why, and he would say: 'I was racially abused.' And we'd say: 'No you weren't, you were off with your girlfriends again.'" | "When he came back one day I asked him why, and he would say: 'I was racially abused.' And we'd say: 'No you weren't, you were off with your girlfriends again.'" |
| He later told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that in his 25-year career he had twice come across soldiers claiming racism when disciplined for poor performance. | |
| After the comments were published, Mr Mercer was asked by his party to resign his frontbench position and did so. | After the comments were published, Mr Mercer was asked by his party to resign his frontbench position and did so. |
| 'Not tolerated' | 'Not tolerated' |
| Mr Cameron said: "The comments made by Patrick Mercer are completely unacceptable and I regret that they were made. | Mr Cameron said: "The comments made by Patrick Mercer are completely unacceptable and I regret that they were made. |
| "We should not tolerate racism in the Army or in any walk of life. Patrick Mercer is no longer a shadow minister." | "We should not tolerate racism in the Army or in any walk of life. Patrick Mercer is no longer a shadow minister." |
| He also said: "I was completely shocked when I read the remarks of Patrick Mercer." | He also said: "I was completely shocked when I read the remarks of Patrick Mercer." |
| He added that "racism is disgusting and has no part in any part of our society". | He added that "racism is disgusting and has no part in any part of our society". |
| Labour MP Sadiq Khan said: "I find these comments shocking and most members of the public will find them outrageous." | Labour MP Sadiq Khan said: "I find these comments shocking and most members of the public will find them outrageous." |
| Army culture | |
| But Leroy Hutchinson, a black former corporal who served with Mr Mercer for 12 years, said: "He never tolerated racism in the battalion and not a single one of his men would consider him to be racist." | But Leroy Hutchinson, a black former corporal who served with Mr Mercer for 12 years, said: "He never tolerated racism in the battalion and not a single one of his men would consider him to be racist." |
| Mr Hutchinson told the BBC: "In the forces... name-calling - whether you be black, white, ginger, red, brown - it is part of the establishment." | Mr Hutchinson told the BBC: "In the forces... name-calling - whether you be black, white, ginger, red, brown - it is part of the establishment." |
| He added: "It's not meant and it doesn't come across from an individual as a racist comment. It's just part of the culture. | He added: "It's not meant and it doesn't come across from an individual as a racist comment. It's just part of the culture. |
| "When you wear that uniform, it is what goes on and it's been happening for a long, long time." | "When you wear that uniform, it is what goes on and it's been happening for a long, long time." |
| [Mr Mercer] is a wonderful member of parliament and a wonderful man and he would never have intended to be racist Sheelagh Hamilton, Newark Conservative Association | |
| In a statement, Mr Mercer said: "The offence I have obviously caused is deeply regretted. | In a statement, Mr Mercer said: "The offence I have obviously caused is deeply regretted. |
| "I had the privilege to command soldiers from across the East Midlands of whom many came from racial minorities. | "I had the privilege to command soldiers from across the East Midlands of whom many came from racial minorities. |
| "It was a matter of great pride to me that racial minorities prospered inside the unit, and, indeed at one stage all of my company sergeant majors were black. | "It was a matter of great pride to me that racial minorities prospered inside the unit, and, indeed at one stage all of my company sergeant majors were black. |
| "What I have said is clearly misjudged and I can only apologise if I have embarrassed in any way those fine men whom I commanded. | "What I have said is clearly misjudged and I can only apologise if I have embarrassed in any way those fine men whom I commanded. |
| "I have no hesitation in resigning my frontbench appointment." | "I have no hesitation in resigning my frontbench appointment." |
| But Newark Conservative Association chairwoman Sheelagh Hamilton said she was "extremely angry" Mr Mercer's comments had been taken "out of context". | |
| "David Cameron has behaved precipitously," she said. | |
| "I happen to have been an army wife and served before I was married. You cannot compare that with every day life. | |
| "[Mr Mercer] is a wonderful member of parliament and a wonderful man and he would never have intended to be racist," she added. | |
| Richard Alexander, a cabinet member of the Tory-run Newark and Sherwood District Council, in Nottinghamshire, said: "We all say things in the heat of the moment that do not read too well in print, but I understand where he's coming from." |