Members of Parliament have condemned South Oxfordshire MP Boris Johnson for referring to black people as "piccaninnies".

Six MPs signed a motion criticising the Tory MP for referring to Africans as having "water melon smiles" and saying of African people that "left to their own devices, the natives would rely on nothing but the instant carbohydrate gratification of the plantain".

The early day motion, tabled by Labour MP Diane Abbott, notes that Conservative leader and Witney MP David Cameron has "been asked by leading members of London's black community to disassociate his party from these remarks".

But, the motion adds, Mr Cameron has refused to do so, claiming that Mr Johnson's remarks have been "taken out of context and fail to properly represent what he has said in the past".

Mr Johnson, who is the Tory candidate for London mayor, said his comments, which were made in newspaper articles up to five years ago, were not meant to cause offence. In a statement on his website he said: "I am being accused of being a racist. I am furious. This accusation is both untrue and unfair."