This kind of thing really winds me up.

A Tory frontbencher has apologised after using a racist phrase during a House of Lords debate.

Lord Dixon Smith retracted the remark in the chamber, saying: "I apologise, my Lords. I left my brains behind. I apologise to the House."

The 73-year-old said later the phrase "nigger in the woodpile" was in common use when he was younger.

Fair enough. Something which used to be in the lexicon is now deemed unacceptable, he absent mindedly used the phrase, and immediately apologised. The guy had no malintent with his choice of words, just clumsiness.

But Labour MPs called for him to be sacked, with one saying the remark was "deeply offensive".

Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs committee, said: "I regard this remark as racist, because it's deeply offensive.

"It shows a lack of understanding and sensitivity to the ethnic community and seems to come from a throwback age when people used that kind of phrase as if it was normal."

NO IT DOESNT! All the charges laid by Vaz may very well be true, but this instance is not evidence in itself. Racism is one of those instances where political correctness was obscured the real meaning of a concept. I once had a lecturer inform me that those who say the likes of "I fancy a chinkie tonight" are quilty of racism. Utter nonsense. There is no intent there, there is no feeling of hatred towards those of a different race, there is simply a clumsy use of the English language.

Keith Vaz - grow up. Collect whatever gong Geoff Hoon has promised you, and clear off. Criticise a Tory for a million and one things, but faux outrage at a genuine mistake, particularly when the it's a charge of racism, is just not on.