Blears backs 'golliwog' row sacking

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In a speech to Labour Party activists in Manchester, the Communities Secretary is expected to brand Miss Thatcher's language as "offensive and racist".

She will say: "It is right that the BBC took the action they did - they deserve credit for protecting their employees from offensive racist language.

"Of course 'golliwog' is an offensive, racist word when directed at a black person. It is a nasty word and belies a nasty attitude.

"The job of decent people in the modern world is to drive racist language, attitudes and violence out of our society, and the action of the BBC is another step forward in that task."

But there was more support from the public on Friday for the journalist daughter of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, after the BBC received another 1,100 complaints about her removal to take the tally to 3,348.

London Mayor Boris Johnson also joined in the criticism, saying she should simply have been taken aside and spoken to about her language.

Miss Thatcher was dropped from the programme after she referred to a tennis player as a "golliwog" during a conversation in the green room, where the production team and guests were gathered after the show was over.

The number of messages backing the BBC has more than doubled from Friday, rising from 60 to 133.

Former BBC director general Greg Dyke, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions, backed the sacking.