A Tory MP sacked from the front bench over comments about Army racism has claimed his words were misinterpreted.

A Tory MP sacked from the front bench over comments about Army racism has claimed his words were misinterpreted.

Patrick Mercer plunged the Conservative Party into a furious row yesterday after implying racial abuse was part and parcel of Army life.

Tory leader David Cameron moved swiftly to sack the homeland security spokesman after he claimed it was normal for an ethnic minority soldier to be called a "black bastard".

But Mr Mercer said last night his comments had been twisted. He said: "I very much regret the interpretation that has been put on my comments, but I've been through a damn sight rougher than this."

The MP for Newark, a former colonel in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, apologised earlier for his comments, saying he "deeply regretted" any offence they had caused.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats said his remarks showed the Tories had not changed under Mr Cameron's leadership.

But Mr Mercer said he would not stand down as an MP, adding: "I'm going to continue to represent my constituents who have so far been very supportive.

"One of the reasons I came into politics was to help former and serving soldiers, to give them a voice politically. I will continue to do that."

Mr Mercer said a "huge amount" of black soldiers had come forward to lend him their support.

Commenting on the scandal, he added: "These are people sniping at me with words, bullets are a lot less pleasant."

Mr Cameron admitted on a visit to Birmingham he found Mr Mercer's original comments shocking.

"Racism is completely unacceptable. Racism is disgusting and it has no part in any part of our society," he said.

"We all have a responsibility to uphold those values and that's why I have taken the action that I have taken and that's why Patrick is no longer on the frontbench."

A spokesman said Mr Cameron had asked Mr Mercer to resign and he agreed to go.

Mr Mercer made his comments in response to the disclosure that Commonwealth soldiers were forming their own trade union amid complaints of racism and abuse.

He responded: "I came across a lot of ethnic minority soldiers who were idle and useless, but who used racism as cover for their misdemeanours."

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram condemned the comments as "shocking and unacceptable".

Meanwhile, Mr Cameron will try today to repair the damage inflicted by a scathing assessment of the party's Scottish leadership by its sole Scots MP David Mundell.

In a memo, Mr Mundell lamented "the simple lack of thinkers" on Tory benches at Holyrood and said the replacement of Scots party chairman Peter Duncan was an "immediate priority".

Mr Cameron is expected to give unequivocal backing to Annabel Goldie, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, as their conference opens in Perth.