Tories restore whip to MP suspended for using racist language

Theresa May has restored the Conservative whip to Anne Marie Morris after the MP apologised again for using the N-word at an event earlier this year.

The MP was suspended in July after the prime minister said the remarks were shocking and unacceptable.

However, the Conservatives decided to restore the whip after just five months. They did so at a time when the government is extremely reliant on its MPs turning up to vote, as it battles to avoid defeats in the House of Commons over Brexit with a tiny majority in partnership with the Democratic Unionist party.

Speaking of her return as a Conservative MP, Morris 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 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.”

Morris’s remarks in July, recorded by the Huffington Post at the East India Club, caused an immediate backlash, with opposition politicians applying pressure on May to withdraw the whip.

Morris was recorded saying: “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 nigger in the woodpile, which is, in two years what happens if there is no deal?”

Within an hour of the comments emerging, Morris had issued a statement of apology. “The comment was totally unintentional. I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused,” she said in an email.

About three hours later, May released a statement saying Morris was being disciplined and the whip suspended.

“I was shocked to hear of these remarks, which are completely unacceptable,” May said. “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.”