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| Anne Marie Morris: Tory MP suspended for saying 'real n***** in the woodpile' at meeting has party whip restored | Anne Marie Morris: Tory MP suspended for saying 'real n***** in the woodpile' at meeting has party whip restored |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| A Tory MP who was suspended for using the phrase a “real n***** in the woodpile” at a meeting about Brexit has had the party whip restored. | A Tory MP who was suspended for using the phrase a “real n***** in the woodpile” at a meeting about Brexit has had the party whip restored. |
| The Conservative Party gave no explanation for the decision to lift the suspension imposed on Anne Marie Morris, the MP for Newton Abbot, in Devon. | The Conservative Party gave no explanation for the decision to lift the suspension imposed on Anne Marie Morris, the MP for Newton Abbot, in Devon. |
| But it announced the move alongside a fresh apology from Ms Morris for “using such inappropriate and offensive language”. | But it announced the move alongside a fresh apology from Ms Morris for “using such inappropriate and offensive language”. |
| The MP’s secretly recorded remarks triggered outrage when they were revealed in July and were condemned by Theresa May as “shocking and unacceptable”. | The MP’s secretly recorded remarks triggered outrage when they were revealed in July and were condemned by Theresa May as “shocking and unacceptable”. |
| Ms Morris, an MP since 2010, had been discussing what financial services deal the UK could strike with Brussels after 2019, suggesting just 7 per cent of such services would be affected. | Ms Morris, an MP since 2010, had been discussing what financial services deal the UK could strike with Brussels after 2019, suggesting just 7 per cent of such services would be affected. |
| She told a meeting of Eurosceptics: “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. | She told a meeting of Eurosceptics: “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***** in the woodpile, which is, in two years, what happens if there is no deal?” | “Now we get to the real n***** in the woodpile, which is, in two years, what happens if there is no deal?” |
| Within four hours, the Prime Minister had announced her punishment, saying: “I was shocked to hear of these remarks, which are completely unacceptable. | Within four hours, the Prime Minister had announced her punishment, saying: “I was shocked to hear of these remarks, which are completely unacceptable. |
| “I immediately asked the chief whip to suspend the party whip. Language like this has absolutely no place in politics or in today’s society.” | “I immediately asked the chief whip to suspend the party whip. Language like this has absolutely no place in politics or in today’s society.” |
| The decision to end her suspension was announced in an email, which read simply: “Anne Marie Morris has the Conservative whip restored.” | The decision to end her suspension was announced in an email, which read simply: “Anne Marie Morris has the Conservative whip restored.” |
| Jon Trickett MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, said: “It’s a disgrace that the so called ‘caring’ Conservatives have welcomed back Anne Marie Morris who made an appallingly racist comment. | |
| “It appears the Prime Minister is so weak and desperate to avoid a parliamentary Brexit defeat, she is prepared to forgive and forget racism. | |
| “Theresa May once branded the Conservatives the 'nasty party' and it is clear nothing has changed.” | |
| Ms Morris herself said: “I would like to take this opportunity to apologise again for using such inappropriate and offensive language. It was a mistake and I regret it unreservedly. | |
| “I have learned from this experience and have a new determination to uphold the highest possible standards in public life. | “I have learned from this experience and have a new determination to uphold the highest possible standards in public life. |
| “I feel proud and privileged to be a Member of Parliament and I will continue to serve my community and my country to the best of my ability.” | “I feel proud and privileged to be a Member of Parliament and I will continue to serve my community and my country to the best of my ability.” |
| The comments were recorded by the Huffington Post website, at the East India Club, in London. | The comments were recorded by the Huffington Post website, at the East India Club, in London. |
| The Prime Minister later told the Commons: “I think it is beholden on us all to ensure we use appropriate language at all times.” | The Prime Minister later told the Commons: “I think it is beholden on us all to ensure we use appropriate language at all times.” |