Vicar apologises for 'nip' slur

A vicar who jokingly referred to a Japanese person as a "nip" has been forced to apologise after being branded a racist.

The Rev Michael Wishart, priest of St Mary's in Bishops Lydeard, Somerset, wrote about "a nip in the air" in his regular column in the parish newspaper.

He also said multiculturalism was "undermining" the British way of life.

The vicar, who has a reputation for his "robust views", has apologised and said the joke was a "throwaway line".

The exact wording which appeared in the October edition of The Triangle Magazine said: "The mornings have a decidedly autumnal feel to them, there's a little nip in the air. Which is what they said when they hanged the Japanese criminal."

He was trying to be light hearted inappropriately. He's a first rate parish priest Diocese of Bath and Wells

Race relations leaders were not amused and have also criticised a comment he made in the same newsletter about how Christianity was now "under attack" from other religions.

David Onamade, director of Somerset Racial Equality Council said: "I think what he said is racist to say the least and I think his views about other equality areas are patronising.

"Why did he feel the need to pick out the Japanese? Maybe he doesn't realise the term nip is derogatory. I think he should consider his position."

In the monthly village newsletter, Rev Wishart also criticised police for arresting a Christian activist who was handing out leaflets at a Gay Pride event.

'Judgment error'

He said: "We are not only under threat from other religions but secularism gone mad.

"It has become so politically correct that many local authorities are following Birmingham's lead and no longer intend to observe Christmas festivities but are calling it "winter fest" instead, so that no offence may be given."

A spokesman for the diocese of Bath and Wells has declined to comment on whether the vicar would face any disciplinary action, but admitted the joke was an "error of judgment".

"It was certainly an attempt at a very heavy-handed joke, that just wasn't funny.

"He was trying to be light hearted inappropriately. He's a first rate parish priest.

"He's got the people he serves very much at heart. This was just a very unfortunate error of judgment."

The vicar has apologised for his joke but also appeared to take a swipe at his "politically correct" critics.

"If it has caused any offence, then I apologise," he said.

"I got the mickey taken out of me left right and centre for being Welsh when I was in the Navy, but I never went running to the race relations board."