Good Morning Britain presenter Sean Fletcher accuses Tory MP James Cleverly of "selling out" and "putting his party before race" over his response to Desmond Swayne's blackface scandal.
Last week, a photo emerged of Sir Desmond in blackface as he refused to say sorry.
Appearing on GMB this morning, James admitted that he found Sir Desmond's response to the photo "funny".
Interviewing him via video link: : "How do you feel about one of your own people, Desmond Swayne, saying there's nothing wrong with blackface?"
James responded: "Well look, it's not something I would do, obviously, but the point is that we've seen Prime Minister Trudeau doing this. I know it wasn't done maliciously.
"I know Desmond really really well, we are really good friends. We served together in the reserve forces. And while I completely understand how some people can take offense to it, he's a great guy. He wouldn't mean any offense with this."
He added: "The simple truth is that this is a party that is open and welcoming and diverse."
Piers then pointed out that Sir Desmond didn't apologise and instead said that the only reason he wouldn't do it again was because the "colour was hard to wash off".
"This is obviously a light-hearted response," James responded.
Piers pressed: "As a black man, do you find that funny?"
"Yes, I do," Cleverly answered.
Later, Piers asked Sean Fletcher about his reaction to James' reply and asked whether he was surprised.
"Yes I am," Sean replied. "James Cleverly is putting his party before his race and clearly he's backing the party and he's been told he needs to back his fellow man.
"That for me is selling out big time and he's talking about kids looking at politics and thinking, 'I don't want to get involved because I might get abuse for being called a coconut' or whatever.
"If you see a man blacking up and then his response - I don't agree with you most of the time - but I completely agree with everything you were saying there."
*Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV
