MP apologises for racist joke

Ann Winterton is vice-president of the rugby club

A senior Conservative MP has apologised for telling a racist joke at a rugby club dinner.

As part of the joke, shadow rural affairs minister Ann Winterton said Asians were "10 a penny" in Britain.

Mrs Winterton was giving a speech at the rugby club in her constituency of Congleton, Cheshire.

The joke she included caused outrage among the 160 diners at Congleton Rugby Union Club where she is vice-president, the Sunday Mirror reported.

I think that so-called joke would be so hurtful to many of my constituents that her position is untenable

Ann Cryer
Labour MP

Friends of the MP said it was intended to be light-hearted and Mrs Winterton later said: "I unreservedly apologise if anyone was offended or took offence to what I said."

The Commission for Racial Equality described Mrs Winterton's joke as "unfortunate", adding that this was particularly so "in the light of the fact that three British National Party councillors were elected in Burnley this week".

"All politicians need to show leadership when talking about race. Our chairman [Gurbux Singh] has recently met with members of the Conservative Party who said that they are committed to race equality," a spokesman added.

"We do think that there are programmes out there, such as Goodness Gracious Me, where race can make a funny topic.

Resignation call

"We are not for closing down the debate but certainly we think that it was unfortunate that she used it in such a stereotypical way."

Ann Cryer, Labour MP for Keighley, West Yorkshire, called for Mrs Winterton to resign from the Conservative frontbench.

She added: "I do this with great reluctance because there are too few women on the Conservative frontbenches, but I think that so-called joke would be so hurtful to many of my constituents that her position is untenable."

The Conservative Party is standing by Mrs Winterton.

A spokesman said: "Ann has issued an unreserved apology."