Tory sacked over Army racism row

A Tory frontbencher has been forced to stand down after suggesting racism was part and parcel of Army life for ethnic minority soldiers.

In an interview, MP and Homeland Security spokesman Patrick Mercer said it was commonplace for troops to be given a hard time over their ethnicity, the colour of their hair, or because they were overweight.

He said: "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, a former colonel in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, said he had known many soldiers from ethnic minority backgrounds who used racism as an excuse for poor performance.

Tory leader David 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."

After his forced resignation, Mr Mercer said: "The offence I have obviously caused is deeply regretted ... 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."

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