A CLAIM by Sandbach's MP Ann Winterton that she has become a victim of over-zealous political correctness has been rejected by local Conservatives.

Lady Winterton has come under fire since the dinner party where she recited a sick 'joke' about the deaths of 20 Chinese cocklers who drowned at Morecambe Bay.

She was sacked from the Parliamentary party by Conservative leader Michael Howard, and her future as MP for the area has been thrust into doubt.

Lady Winterton has written to all 164 Tory MPs bemoaning the end of free speech and freedom.

But Dr Peter Kolker, chairman of the Congleton Conservative Association, said: 'I am as much for free speech as anybody else, but I don't think that this comes into it. This is a matter of a lack of taste.'

Lady Winterton has vowed to fight on despite calls for her resignation, following the 'joke' about a shark advised to go to Morecambe Bay 'for a Chinese' as it was bored with eating tuna.

She told Tory MPs: 'It is worrying that 'political correctness' is so far entrenched in our country and that no-one is willing to challenge it for fear of being destroyed.

'Free speech is a basic Conservative principle but it is being eroded day by day and the very freedom for which our forefathers fought will perhaps be lost in the future.'

She added: 'I accept that the leader of our party, Michael Howard, has been placed in a difficult position by the ensuing Press attention and that is something I very much regret.'

Local Conservatives will ultimately decide whether she will be able to stand as Congleton's Tory candidate at the next General Election.

It was originally expected that they would discuss it at the Association's AGM on Friday, but it was not added to the agenda, and it has now been revealed that they will not discuss the matter until the summer..

Dr Kolker said: 'I don't think the issue of re-nomination as Parliamentary candidate will come up for some time.

'First of all we have got to give her time to write to us to give official notice of her intention to stand again.

'Then we would have to arrange an executive meeting in order to make a recommendation that an extraordinary general meeting is held.

'It would then be up to the association members whether to re-adopt the MP as Parliamentary candidate.

'That is standard procedure within the Conservative Party.'

Dr Kolker added: 'Before that we have the local council elections to fight in June and they are the most important thing at the current time.

'We hope that any issues relating to Lady Winterton receiving the party whip will be timely resolved.'