CALLS have been made for a pro-Leave Tory MP to be suspended after she allegedly described the prospect of leaving the European Union with no deal as "the real n***** in the woodpile".
Opposition MPs condemned the “disgusting” and “racist” comment and called on Theresa May to remove the whip immediately from Anne Marie Morris, the MP for Newton Abbott in Devon.
As the row erupted, the backbencher apologised "unreservedly" for "any offence caused" by her "entirely unintentional" description.
Ms Morris was heard in an audio clip, obtained by the Huffington Post, saying: "And then we get to the real n***** 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 at a meeting of Eurosceptics at the East India Club in St James Square in central London, which was organised by the Politeia group.
Reacting, Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas urged the Tories to remove the whip from Ms Morris, tweeting: "Appalling. Should have the whip removed immediately. No place in our politics for racism, full stop."
Outgoing Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron backed calls to remove the whip from Ms Morris.
"This disgusting comment belongs in the era of the Jim Crow laws and has no place in our Parliament," he declared.
"The Conservative Party should withdraw the whip from Anne Marie Morris and they should do it today.
"Every hour they leave her in place, is a stain on them and the so called 'compassionate Conservatism' they supposedly espouse. 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," he added.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: "We are aware of these reports, this kind of language is completely unacceptable, and we are urgently investigating."
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