CONTROVERSIAL Tory MP Ann Winterton has been blasted by a race equality group after she said Britain is "thankfully a predominantly white, Christian country".
Lady Winterton also questioned the benefits of multi-culturalism and referred to the UK as a "banana republic".
Her comments were criticised by the Cheshire Racial Equality Council, which said she had "failed to recognise the contribution black and minority ethnic people have made to this country".
Lady Winterton was writing a column in a weekly newspaper in her Congleton constituency. She wrote: "We live in times of tremendous change but the United Kingdom is still, thankfully, a predominantly white, Christian country.
Abuse
"Some might say we are paying the price for the so-called benefits of the multi-cultural society we keep hearing about, the product of almost uncontrolled immigration and the abuse of asylum."
A Conservative spokeswoman today said there had been no official complaint and declined to comment further.
The forthright MP was sacked as shadow rural affairs minister three years ago after making an allegedly racist joke during an after-dinner speech.
And in 2004 she briefly had the party whip withdrawn by Tory bosses after making another joke about Chinese cockle pickers shortly after the tragedy at Morecambe Bay.
Lady Winterton was elected as the first-ever MP for Congleton when the new constituency was created in 1983. Her husband, Sir Nick Winterton, has been MP for neighbouring Macclesfield for 34 years.
Banana republic
In her column she added: "In his banana republic called Britain, we have been as weak on terrorism and terrorists as he (Tony Blair) is on crime and criminals.
"Understandable outrage has been expressed about the reluctance of the authorities to combat the blatant agitation by Muslim extremists in this country. We have now paid a high price for this inactivity."
Chantelle Janes, director of Cheshire Racial Equality Council, said: "A lot of people on July 7 who lost people were from black and minority ethnic groups and she seems to forget that."
Lady Winterton was not available for comment.
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Arthur Hope, Heald Green (27/09/2005 at 13:24)
Janet, Preston (27/09/2005 at 13:42)
SB, Oldham (27/09/2005 at 14:06)
As her comments will create divisions amongs any unity or harmony and will be seen as support message for the far right parties such as BNP.
Why does she have to bring race and religion into politics? Just to get more votes for herself.
If you go to some of the developing countries, you will find that there are pockets of ex-pats living in these countries like kings and queens. They have their own towns built for them, a little England or little America. These people are christians, they have their maids, servants, cleaners, chefs, drivers. All local country people. I don't see or hear any complaints from ex-pats about race or religion or colour.
It boils down to superiority. If a white person can live like a king, use and abuse people of other colour, race and keep them lower down in the chains of power, then the white christian like Ann will feel fulfilled. She will feel that she is a master race, others races are seen as inferior.
I wonder if she would still be here today if Hitler had dominated the world.
I wonder what her opinions would have been, if Hitler ruled the world - after all his perfection was superhumans - white skinned, perfectly build bodies, blue eyes and blonde, tall, beautiful and handsome people.
Is this Anns' ideal world, her Utopia.
Blue Dave, Denton (27/09/2005 at 14:33)
Nicola, Fallowfield (27/09/2005 at 15:40)
Dave, Salford (27/09/2005 at 15:55)
Joe, Manchester (27/09/2005 at 16:02)
Max Cash, Grand Cayman (27/09/2005 at 16:02)
Finally someone has the guts to speak the truth about the pathetic situation created by this inept government, I for one applaud her comments, all of them, and wish her well, God bless that once green and pleasant land, it's now time to build a new Jerusalem, and fast!
yusefiqbal, Manchester (27/09/2005 at 16:18)
Many non muslims simply don't understand muslim ethics the mullahs are more powerful than any other individuals in muslim society, I turned my back on Islam in my twenties, why, because I believed, and I was justified that in a predominantly wasp (to use an Americanism) country the only way forward for an immigrant is to totally immerse oneself in that culture.
No one insults me because basically i'm a white man in a brown skin, I talk, think and act like an englishman which is what I am because I proudly took up British citizenship thirty years ago.
My advice to youdo gooder, bleeding hearts out there is to stop bleating about being a muslim, get a life and live it,
Proud to be a British Paki, Yusef (Joe) Iqbal qum.
Blue Dave, Denton (27/09/2005 at 16:30)
colin howard, buriram thailand (28/09/2005 at 04:54)
Rob Lawrence, Eccles (28/09/2005 at 06:45)
For an MP, Ms Winterton should really consider the impact of what she says before saying it, especially on the image of the people of Congleton that she represents. In the modern world there is no place for racial or religious discrimination. The basic economic law of comparative advantage dictates that countries must trade with each other to raise living standards in their own countries. But how can you trade with someone whom you despise? Why are so many cars in the UK full of petrol that came from the Arab world whilst we moan there isn't enough it? John Lennon was spot on - we have to live in this world as one. Amen to that.
Emmanuel james, London (28/09/2005 at 17:49)
Mr. Anachronism, Southern California (28/09/2005 at 21:51)
Here in God-forsaken Southern California we have seen the future, and it blows.
Britons, awake!
Craig Mills, Tauton (29/09/2005 at 02:54)
If the rest of the Tories were like her, instead of weak weenies, they would run the country.
Diversity = Marxist Perversity. Deport Foreigners and Keep Britian British!!!
David Caselman, San Francisco, California (29/09/2005 at 04:58)
David Dodson, Cooper, TX (30/09/2005 at 03:59)
mini, Sale,Manchester (30/09/2005 at 09:08)
Just to clarify Ms Winterton did not say that Britain is a predominantly white, Christian country. which would indeed have been stating a fact. She chose instead to express an opinion by adding the word thankfully before the above statement. You may be fed up by the PC brigade, it may be, bizarrely, making you into reluctant racists however as long as racist individuals such as Ann Winterton are in positions of power then such external controls are essential aren't they. Get rid of Ann and her ilk and there would be no need for PC controls in government.
The majority of us manage to live and work in ethnically mixed environments without offending anyone and without cracking sick racist jokes. Isn't it time for the rest of you to catch up?
Peter Munro, Congleton (30/09/2005 at 10:02)
She does the town no good at all and should go now.
Anon, Lancashire (30/09/2005 at 11:09)
GC, Arlington, VA, USA (30/09/2005 at 13:36)
B.A., USA (10/10/2005 at 03:57)
I find it amusing that the world was shocked at the conditions in New Orleans. EVERY major city in America has huge sub-populations of poor minorities. From what I read on UK sites the same is true. These populations are growing and by the year 2050 whites will be a minority in the UK. You can call me racist and ignorant yet everything I have stated is the truth. In America it is a crime to be white and to want to preserve your culture yet if you are a minority you can do no wrong. The same is true in the UK.
David Joines, Cheshire (08/11/2005 at 19:39)
It is a shame Lady Winterton is a member of the wrong party.
She would be most welcome to cross over to the BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY any time, being clearly more Nationalist than Tory.
David Joines
BNP
Nth West Regional Organiser
ANTHONY DAVID JONES, ASHTON U LYNE (09/11/2005 at 20:06)