MICHAEL HOWARD last night dismissed Ann Winterton as a Tory MP after she refused to apologise for a racist joke about the death of 20 Chinese cocklers in Morecambe Bay.

The Conservative leader withdrew the whip from Mrs Winterton, removing her from the party’s parliamentary ranks after late night discussions with his aides.

It is the second time that Mrs Winterton, the MP for Congleton, has been in trouble for making racist jokes. Two years ago she was sacked from the Tory front bench after a previous attempt at humour saw her refer to Pakistanis being thrown off a train.

Before Mr Howard’s decision to remove the whip, a senior source had made it clear that he expected Mrs Winterton to make a full apology for the remarks, made at a dinner with MPs on Tuesday. Mr Howard said in a statement: “Ann Winterton’s remarks about the tragic deaths in Morecambe Bay were completely unacceptable. Such sentiments have no place in the Conservative Party. I deplore them and I apologise for them on behalf of my party.

“As a result of her refusal to withdraw and apologise for them, the Conservative whip has been withdrawn from Ann Winterton.”

Mr Howard’s action comes after his speech in Burnley last week in which he condemned the BNP and praised the contribution of immigrants in Britain.

Nick Palmer, the Labour MP for Broxtowe, who sat near Mrs Winterton at the dinner of the all-party Anglo-Danish friendship group, said that she had asked the assembled guests if she could tell a joke. Her Tory colleague, Cheryl Gillan, who was mindful of the previous row, asked if it would be in good taste.

Mrs Winterton assured everyone that it was, but then followed it with the racist joke, which made light of the deaths of the Chinese cockle-pickers on February 5.

Mr Palmer said: “I like jokes but this one was beyond the pale, you don’t make fun of people who have died in circumstances like that. Everybody looked a bit embarrassed and one of the Danes swiftly suggested another drink.”

Mrs Winterton was sacked from the front bench by Iain Duncan Smith in May 2002 after a speech to a constituency rugby dinner. She was unavailable for comment last night. Mrs Gillan said: “I never remember jokes and I never criticise colleagues.”

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