Cameron is guilty of appeasing the p.c. brigade at the expense of a man who put his life on the line for his country. Ask those black men who served under him. Verbal abuse is unpleasant, but it is not a hanging offence. Service personnel need to toughen up to do a hard job. If they are so precious that they can't take a bit of abuse, perhaps they are not fit for purpose. Political correctness is tying the hands of those who train our armed forces . It is their job to make sure that all personnel can take incredible pressure without cracking. Well done Mr. Cameron, you have proved that like Blair, et al you haven't got a clue about the calibre of people needed to defend out country and help others. Mr. Mercer was right to raise the issue of those who play the race card to excuse their shortcomings. I was married to an African American and was so proud that he never did that and he despised those who did. No, he was not an Uncle Tom, far from it.

Diana Donald, Soham, Cambs

As an Ulster soldier who had served in Northern Ireland I had the privilege of working under the then Major Mercer. I have never met a more dedicated Soldier and commander who had un-questionable support of his men. “A true Brit “

Mr Cameron and the other political correctness freaks should have come over here and experience what many in the Armed forces had to endure on a daily bases and to be told by the Courts and others “it comes with the job”

This country needs more Patrick Mercers all he was doing was expressing his thoughts based on his experience.

M Stanford, Co Tyrone,

i think that if mercer had such "experience of life" he would have realised that his choice of words, would have been received as unacceptable and he should have realised that before he said what he said.You should use the cover of political correctness before you say something so untoward, not afterwards where it has little effect.

john, brighton,

If a Tory ex Army person can't see that serving soldiers are deserving of respect - including that of other soldiers,- who can??

G Gardner, Edinburgh, Scotland

Patrick Mercer has probably done more for his country than Cameron will ever do.

irene edwards, kesgrave,

Patrick Mercer has far more experience of life than David Cameron. He did not say anything remotely racist, and what he said about using racism as an excuse happens in everyday life in Britian where it is used as an excuse. But, he had the courage to say so and others, including policemen, teachers, lawyers, judges and above all self-important, arrogant and pathetic politicians are gutless and do not tell the truth, that they know it is used as an excuse for crime, underachievement, and bad behaviour at all levels. If they do not like Britain, they can leave now.
David Cameron is weak and all things to all men, he is nothing to the real people of Britain who value the freedom of speech, which he and his quisling co-politicians of all partries have stolen from us. Patrick Mercer is far more intelligent than Cameron, a self-opinionatede and arrogant politician. Cameron shows no leadership, this was sheer fear and cowardice. The Conservative Party needs Mercer, not Cameron.

Richard Ord, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

I think it very sad that Mr Mercer made a major error of judgement and therefore had to leave the front bench but he was apparently a very good commandiing officer and I am sure will continue to be an excellent constituency MP.

Phil
Edinburgh

Phil , Edinburgh, Scotland

David Cameron is quick to shoot the messenger but will not address the matter of institutional racism in the Armed Forces.

Colonel Mercer was at least honest about his views although they came across as endorsing the actions, rather than take the bull by the horns and deal with the matter directly with the Ministry of Defence, he has fired a man of integrity, something the Conservatives are in very short supply of over the past decade or so.

Colonel Mercer, Sir, do not let these fools ruin your life, speaking as a former Ordnance Corps Soldier and a member of the Ethnic Minority, I salute you.

Who Guards the Guards.

Mo, Birmingham, England

Well once again the PC Brigades (Pathetic Cretins) voice hold sway. The last time I looked we still had Freedom of Speech in this Country, or did I miss something. I am afraid David Cameron shows up in this incident in a very poor light, at least Col Patrick Mercer stood up for his troops unlike his Party leader. Do we really want Cameron in charge of the country, I'm afraid my vote is going elsewhere. We've put up with one Prima-Donna for the last 10 years do we really want another one.

Andy Wait, Billericay, Essex

Dear Sir
Remembering my service in the army,we were called far worse by our sargent major, wimps we may have been when we started, but we emerged as men. The next move I presume in this country is to colour code toilet paper to what ever suits our skin, as all toilet paper was white in the days of my youth.

C Etheridge, Witham, England

No longer the land of the Anglo Saxon or the Celts,no longer the land of a people who were respected in the world for their culture and customs.
Now we are the subserveant in our own land ,having to pay lip service to people who would not give us the treatment they demand here, in the lands they have deserted.If Cameron and Blair were as truthfull and forthright as as Spencer they would get more respect from the electorate.
The next Government will only gain power when they are truly honest and get this country back in the ownership to those whom it belongs.

owen haren, gateshead, TYNE&WEAR

I worked with the then Major Patrick Mercer in Uganda in the 1980's, I have never worked with such a committed and driven officer, he is beliefed based and completely honourable. He is not now or ever has been a racist, he will be a sad loss to the front benches of the Conservative party.

Rhett Corcoran, IPSWICH, UK

Political correctness gone mad, no wonder politicians end up dishonest when speaking honestly is clearly not an option, and any comments are immediately blown up and taken out of context.

Is honesty and open debate possible in todays society ?

Andy, Mablethorpe, England

PC madness once again. I'm a life long Tory supporter and voter, but am very disappointed in David Cameron.

Sam, Sheffield, UK

Mr Cameron has by his actions yesterday clearly stamped out what he wants from his party in the future.He wants sheep who will toe thee party line and speak the party speak and generally do as they are told and have no personal oppinions of their own. Never mind the feelings or beliefs of the people that vote them into parliment that they are supposed to represent just make up the numbers and vote as they are told .

Andrew E Mitchell, liverpool, England

Cameron is wrong. Real progress comes from freedom to speak truths, however uncomfortable that may be. Otherwise we return to the dark ages of dogma and suppression of views that don't accord with the Establishment line. Political correctness is the current day version of witchcraft. I'd rather vote for an honest politician than a poor man's Tony Blair.

NM, London, UK

What annoys me in this instance is that Mr Mercer wasn't really giving an opinion, he was stating facts.
Perhaps what goes on in the army is wrong, but why should someone be castigated for being open about it? Surely if we're deveoping into a society whereby people in responsible positions are afraid to be honest and open about racial issues it is counter-productive. How will we know about racial problems if they're just swept under the carpet? If no one like Mr Mercer "tells it as it is", then "it" will never change.

Chris Warne, Newbury,

People like David Mercer have no place in parliament. No indeed. It would seem that straight-forward, decent officers and gentlemen, respected by their men and respectful of their men have no place in parliament.

This is political correctness gone barmy.

Mark Anthony Mifsud, Msida, Malta

Mr. Mercer has a fine record ans his men respected him. He is clearly not a racist. He simply told it as it is. We are losing the truth to political correctness.

Roger Parkes, Tunbridge Wells,

I thought that Patrick Mercer's comments were just statements of facts, not racist. Judging by the reaction of soldiers who served under him, he is not at all a racist.
It may not have been wise to have made the remarks but it was honest and speaking from his own experience. I thought that Cameron over-reacted hugely by sacking Patrick Mercer.
We should be pleased to have robust and honest politicians instead of mealy-mouthed politically correct people who posture for media approval.
Britain seems to have lost both its spirit and the ideals of free speech and rugged individualism which once made us admirable. We have become craven and dependent upon the opinions of others about what we may say or do.

B. Bannister, Dorchester, England

Army life is different perhaps if Cameron had done Nationa service he would understand the real world in the forces.

Robert, Malaga, Spain

David Cameron did not act in a ruthless way; he acted like a petulant prefect at a school open day. Cameron is showing his naivety, lack of leadership and bowing to minority public opinion and trying to ingratiate himself with floating voters. He has given no thought to and, insults the brave serving soldiers of all ethnic back grounds who serve with honour and distinction with out complaining. His attitude is an insult to all serving and ex military personnel. I respect and support ex Col Patrick Murphy MP for his integrity and outspoken views informing the public of the truth.
I am British and I am proud of being British however , I am ashamed of our politicians and their weak kneed melee mouth attitude.

Phill Collings, Telford, Breat Britain

This action was appropriate given Mr. Cameron's strategic big tent philosophy as elections are sometimes won or are lost on the mere slip of the tongue.

For what is said [however out of context] by a politician is maybe just the very thing [or the only thing] voters will recall when they enter a voting booth.

Remember: the so-called "Macaca" name-calling incident helped to bring to defeat former US Senator Allen in November 2006 General Election in Virginia, USA.

Minority voters remember these things at the polling station.

Bravo! Thank you, Mr. Cameron.

Marcelino, Tracy, CA, USA

This is political correctness gone barmy and it's a sorry day when such playground taunts [directed at men from all backgrounds in the services ] are labelled as racist. If Mr Cameron had ever been in the services he might have been qualified to make such a judgement. This will have lost him many votes - we need men in politics with Mr Mercer's background.

Tim, Kent,

Knee Jerk reaction I'm afraid. I'm Welsh & have been called 'Taffy', 'Jock' & 'Sheepsh*gger' in various places. Cameron won't have too many front bench spokesmen if he keeps this up.

John Clark, Warwick, UK

Racism in Reverse
Mr Mercer's comments were quite in order. I do not regard being called a Yorkshire git as offensive but descriptive of my origin - of which I'm proud - coupled with judgment of myself by someone. I may regard the "git" as being offensive - but that is a different matter.
If I were thrown out of pub mainly used by black people I could not raise that as being racist, but if a black were thrown out of virtually any pub they could do.
The police, for one example, do have a body representing black ones but not one for whites since that would be racist.
The "do gooders" social rights went ridiculous and just created problems where there were none and gave a biased non-solution. Is Mr Cameron one of them?

David Abram, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Criticism of racial minorities is unacceptable, regardless of whether its true or not.
No member of a racial minority is lazy, ever.
Racial minorities do not 'play the race card'.

These are are just 3 of the rules he broke, he had to go.

Steve, London,

Mr Mercer's crime was political naivety, nothing else.

I lost a lot of respect for Mr Cameron yesterday when he clearly showed that his priority is pandering to the PC lobby rather than listen to the issues.

I find racism abhorrent. However, Mr Mercer’s comments were about those who cry wolf. What Mr Cameron has now done is encourage such people to abuse the system. This does no favours for those with genuine complaints and makes life much harder for those of us who must try to distinguish one from the other.

Anon, Somerset,

Making a factual observation of a social issue now appears to be no longer a matter for legitimate poitical debate. A blunt assessment of the realities of life is what we need from politicians - it might enhace their reputation. Calling a spade a shovel used to be the British way, I lement its passing.

N.H., Chorley, Lancashire

The reaction, as usual, has been completely dispropotionate to what was said. I work in a council where ethnic minorities are recruited into management from nowhere just to set the 'equalities agenda', which actually no longer needs setting in today's meritocratic society. If you're good at what you do - you'll succeed. Whatever your colour, gender or sexual persuasion. I suspect Colonel Mercer rejected the idea of an anti-racism union because the idea is genuinely ridiculous. It seems the only people left vulnerable to prejudice and discrimination (often, incredibly, termed 'positive') are now white males. We're the only ones who can't be sensitive to the slightest slur, have to take it on the chin and move on.

Joseph Sullivan, London,

Sir,

It is difficult to say what was worse; Mr. Mercer's views or the clumsy, insensitive and arrogant manner in which someone in his position chose to express himself.

Either way, his dismissal was well deserved.

Regards

Donovan Wright, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Patrick Mercer expressed his thoughts based on experience, why should we stifle honest, informed views? If he comes accross racist to some, I believe those people are looking for racism where there is none.
Derogatory words only become that way when the user believes them to be derogatory, referring to someone as tall is a compliment to some, short more often can be negative, but it's dependent on the context and the people. We're encouraged to accept diversity, but have too many rules around acceptable speech. It's not often MP's are open and candid, we shouldn't punish those that are.

J, London,

I think David Cameron has taken this action, in the hope this will give him more votes at the next election.
In my opinion Patick Mercer is far from a racist and what he said was his opinion of the army in which he served.
Patrick Mercer could have done a great deal of good for the Conservative Party, Especially when we have New Labour talking about texting illegal immigrants!
I would hope David Cameron and his advisers get their act together, so I can look forward to Great Britain being great again, and not as we are at present, an impoverished third rate Banana Republic, with a dictatorship in power!

Barry Reed, Hounslow, UK

we are rapidly reaching the point where we will have to watch every word we say. Is there such uproar when we are referred to as by other minorities, no way jose we just have to take it and we're the guys who built this country for these.
Give over as we say in Yorkshire

mike sanders, Hong Kong,

well done David.Now go and modernise the armed forces

A Muty, London,

David Cameron has over-reacted to what Mr Mercer said. Surely he was reporting what he had observed while serving in the army - a fact of military life. I don't think for one minute that this makes the Conservative Party appear more racist. It does however make me look at Cameron in a less glowing light.

David, Peterborough, UK

Be careful what you say because the PC zealots will spin any phrase to suit their twisted agenda. They are out to get you if you do not accept that people are different. To be white Anglo Saxon and Protestant is now a minority in England. Who will protect them?

JH, London,

I wonder if Mr Mercer was given a chance to retract his statement, or at least given the opportunity to reconsider what he had said before Timesonline went public.
His interviewer must have known it was political suicide. Mr Mercer is obviously politically naive, which doesn't reflect very favourably on Mr Cameron's choice in selecting him to such a senior position in the first place.

A story at any price is not my idea of what ' The Times' is about.

Brian Charles Seals, Scarborough,

I grew up in a country where freedom of speech was a cornerstone of society.

If you are white and Anglo-Saxon, what freedom of speech.

The Scots and welsh can make racist remarks about the English and they are applauded.

Is this any longer my country?

David Scott, Manchester, England

What is the matter with Cameron & Co? Mr. Mercer was frank and said what he believed to be true. Oh, wait I have it wrong; he is now a politician and must observe certain niceties which include not saying what he feels.
Tell you what, one Mr. Mercer would appear to be worth several Mr. Camerons.

Stu, North Sydney, Canada