London, July 11: A Tory MP has so offended Theresa May by using the word "nigger" during a discussion on Brexit that the Prime Minister has suspended her from the Conservative Party.
The word was used, probably unwittingly, by Anne Marie Morris, member for Newton Abbot in Devon, at a meeting of Eurosceptics at the East India Club in St James Square in central London, organised by the Politeia group, a Centre-Right political think tank.
In an audio clip obtained by the Huffington Post, she is heard saying: "And then we get to the real nigger in the woodpile which is in two years what happens if there is no deal?"
According to the website she made the remark while discussing what financial services deal Britain could strike with the EU after Brexit.
"Nigger in the woodpile" is an old fashioned offensive way of referring to "a hidden snag or hindrance", according to the dictionary meaning.
The origin of the expression is thought to be American, dating back to the days where attempts were made to smuggle black slaves in pulpwood transported by train.
Even in reporting the MP's remark, British newspapers take care to write "nigger" as "n*****". "I was shocked to hear of these remarks, which are completely unacceptable," the Prime Minister reacted. "I immediately asked the chief whip to suspend the party whip."
Having the whip suspended means Morris is effectively expelled from her party though usually the ban is temporary.
All this comes at an inconvenient time for May whose already narrow majority with DUP help is reduced by one.
But she was firm on one point: "Language like this has absolutely no place in politics or in today's society."
When Agatha Christie published her crime thriller, Ten Little Niggers, in 1939, she had no problems with the title in the UK, though in the US the name was changed to And Then There Were None. In the UK, the book has since had several titles, including Ten Little Indians.
The Opposition parties are giving Morris a hard time.
Labour's national campaign co-ordinator Andrew Gwynne said the MP's comments were "outrageous and totally unacceptable".
Outgoing Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "This disgusting comment belongs in the era of the Jim Crow laws and has no place in our parliament. I am utterly shocked that this person represents the good people of Newton Abbot. Even if she misspoke this is the nastiest thing I've heard an MP utter since Lord Dixon Smith uttered the same awful phrase a few years ago."
Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas tweeted, "Appalling," adding, "No place in our politics for racism, full stop." She even wants Morris to step down: "There is no place for her in the House of Commons." One of the Labour party's black rising stars, Chuka Umunna, tweeted: "Speechless, not just at the remark being made but also at the reported lack of a reaction from the Tories there. Utterly appalling."
Morris was condemned even by fellow Conservative MP Helen Grant: "Inconceivable for an MP using that expression to be incognisant of its history, impact and complete unacceptability. So ashamed!"
Morris has covered herself metaphorically in sackcloth and ashes. She insisted her comment was "entirely unintentional" and said: "I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused."
It is probably the case that use of language reflects the reality of multicultural Britain. What is the nation to
do with expressions such as "black as sin" or "the black sheep of the family"?
"Coloured" is no longer used to describe non-white people, and "Paki", a reference to anyone who comes from the
subcontinent, has become a common term of abuse. The word "Pak", an abbreviation of Pakistan, much favoured by
newspapers in India, hasn't caught on in Britain.
People who are of mixed race parentage - very common in the UK now - are no longer called "half caste" or "mixed
breed" though "mixed race" is said to be acceptable.
It has to be said that in private conversation Indians are not without fault.
A throwaway remark, such as "What can you expect from a gora?", would probably pass unchallenged.
