A Tory frontbencher has been forced to quit after comments on race in the Army which party leader David Cameron called "completely unacceptable".
A Tory frontbencher has been forced to quit after comments on race in the Army which party leader David Cameron called "completely 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'
Of the English-born black men he knew in the Army, he 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.'
Of the English-born black men he knew in the Army, he 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
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
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.'"
Mr Mercer 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.
Mr Mercer 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.'"
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."
'Privilege'
'Privilege'
But Leroy Hutchinson, a former corporal in Mr Mercer's regiment, said: "I am a black man and served with Patrick for 12 years.
But Leroy Hutchinson, a former corporal in Mr Mercer's regiment, said: "I am a black man and served with Patrick for 12 years.
"I was promoted to corporal under his command. He never tolerated racism in the battalion and not a single one of his men would consider him to be racist."
"I was promoted to corporal under his command. He never tolerated racism in the battalion and not a single one of his men would consider him to be racist."
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."
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