Theresa May suspends Tory lawmaker for use of racist language

British Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered the Conservative party’s chief whip to suspend an MP who used racist language at a think tank event on the implications of Brexit on the financial services sector.

Anne Marie Morris, the MP for Newton Abbot in Devon who campaigned to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum, was describing her view of what could be done to ensure a good exit agreement in the two years allowed for talks.

"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. And then we get to the real nigger in the wood pile which is, in two years, what will happen if there is no deal," she told a gathering of politicians, lawyers and senior city figures.

Morris has since apologised for causing offence with her use of the word, after a string of opposition politicians accused her of racism.

“The comment was entirely unintentional," she said in a statement of apology. “I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused.”

However, the prime minister decided to suspend the whip from Morris after saying the remarks were shocking and unacceptable.

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.”

Suspending the party whip means Morris is excluded from the party and will sit as an independent, potentially reducing May's ability to pass legislation. Her government already relies on a smaller party after losing its majority at a June election.

Morris can still choose to vote in line with the government, and is likely to continue to do so. May did not say how long the suspension would last or if expulsion was possible.