Jeremy Clarkson condemned for cockle pickers death joke

[dutchman]

Jeremy Clarkson has caused controversy again for apparently mocking the deaths of 23 Chinese cockle pickers in Morecambe.



The Top Gear host made light of the 2004 tragedy while registering his disapproval of synchronised swimming in a column for The Sun, writing: "[It is] Chinese women in hats, upside down, in a bit of water. You can see that sort of thing on Morecambe Beach. For free."

Clarkson's comments have since been described as "beneath contempt" by Morecambe town councillor Tracy Brown, who told The Sunday Telegraph: "He is just trying to make himself look big at other people's expense. Many people around here were deeply affected by the tragedy."

Others to condemn the 51-year-old include the Chinese Embassy, with a spokesman calling for the publication to allow a response from diplomats.

"We deplore and oppose Mr Clarkson's comments, which are insulting and show a woeful disrespect of decency and moral standards," the representative said. "We regret that The Sun has publicised such remarks."

Meanwhile, Matt Collins of equality campaign Hope Not Hate asked the Daily Star: "Why does Jeremy Clarkson constantly have to be so tasteless and offensive?

"He is not funny and all he proves is that he is out of touch with modern Britain and that he belongs in the Dark Ages. He has no right to offend communities in this country who live and work here and provide more to Britain than he does."

Clarkson's latest scandal follows his apparent mocking of India's poor living standards on Top Gear and his suggestion that striking public workers should be executed, which is to be investigated by Ofcom after garnering over 32,000 complaints from the public.