Cameron first to criticise Prince Harry over racist remarks
Sunday, 11 January 2009 11:18 AM
By Matthew West
David Cameron was the first politician to criticise Prince Harry for making racist remarks this morning when he was interviewed on the BBC's Andrew Marr show.
The Tory leader said it was "right" the Prince had apologised for the comment, but said he didn't believe any further disciplinary action needed to be taken.
St James Palace said the prince who is third in line to the throne was using a nickname for a friend and the comment was without any malice.
Mr Cameron is the first senior politician to comment on the race row involving the Prince after footage emerged of him referring to an Asian member of his platoon as "our little Paki friend".
Mr Cameron said: "It is obviously a completely unacceptable thing to say and it is right that he has apologised.
"I think that it is important in the great institutions, whether it is the Army or whether it is political parties, we have had to root out attitudes... and that has to go right across the institutions."
Asked if Harry should be reprimanded he said: "No he has made an apology, I think it is important he is clear about that and I think that is enough."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the comment had caused "considerable offence".
He told the Sunday Live programme on Sky News: "He shouldn't have used those words, it will have caused considerable offence and has obviously caused him a considerable amount of embarrassment.
"He has apologised, quite rightly, and I think we should now move on."
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