SANDBACH'S MP Ann Winterton has vowed to fight on despite calls for her resignation after claims she told a racist joke at a dinner function.
Community leaders, politicians and members of the Chinese community are outraged after Lady Winterton recited a jibe about the deaths of 20 Chinese cocklers at Morecambe Bay.
She was sacked from the Conservative Party in Parliament by leader Michael Howard, and local Conservatives are to vote on whether she will be able to stand as Congleton's Tory candidate at the next General Election.
But, speaking exclusively to the Chronicle, Mrs Winterton said: 'It is business as usual and I will continue to do my best for the people.
'It has been a difficult time but it has been an honour to represent the people of the Congleton Constituency for more than 20 years and I am still the MP.'
Mrs Winterton, 62, who has represented the constituency since 1983, feels the events of a Whitehall dinner function on Tuesday last week have been reported inaccurately.
She said: 'If lies are repeated often enough they become established as the truth. I want people to know the real truth.
'This was a private function. Another MP decided to leak things to the Press which were then taken completely out of context and reported inaccurately.'
But Mrs Winterton's explanation about the alleged 'joke', about a shark which is advised to go to Morecambe Bay for a Chinese after it became bored with eating tuna, is not enough for many people, including members of the local Chinese community.
Fan Ying Zhi, 32, who works at Herbcures in Market Street, Crewe, said: 'She shouldn't have said something like this in public. Somebody in her position should be more responsible.'
Chuan Yi, 42, who also works at the Chinese herbs, massage and acupuncture specialists, added: 'I was upset at these words because they show discrimination. I feel sorry for the families of the victims.'
Cllr Paul Jones, the Liberal-Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Congleton, said the comments demonstrated callous insensitivity.
He added: 'If she hasn't the good grace and common sense to apologise immediately and unreservedly the only decent thing is for her to resign.'
Conservative Cllr Roland Domleo, leader of Congleton Borough Council, said: 'I was very shocked at the time and now I just feel sad because Ann Winterton is a good MP.
'The fact Michael Howard withdrew the party whip made it clear he believed there was a case to answer.'
Mrs Winterton will appear before Congleton Conservative Association at a date which has not yet been revealed .
