Labour accuses Michael Gove and Nadine Dorries of racism over comments about Meghan Markle and journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

Tory cabinet minister criticised for calling Prince Harry's mixed-race wife 'exotic', while backbencher causes row after telling Ugandan-born journalist to be 'grateful' to 'country you have chosen to benefit from'

Labour has accused a cabinet minister and a Conservative backbencher of racism over inflammatory comments about Meghan Markle and a Ugandan-born British journalist.

Michael Gove, the environment secretary, was criticised after describing Prince Harry's new wife as "exotic", while Nadine Dorries triggered an angry backlash after telling commentator Yasmin Alibhai-Brown she should "appreciate just a little the country...you benefit from".

Labour said the pair should "enter the 21st Century and leave their racism at the door" and claimed their attitudes were part of a climate that led to members of the Windrush generation facing the threat of deportation.

The row erupted when Ms Dorries attacked Ms Alibhai-Brown, a former Independent columnist, for a post mocking the fervour over the marriage of Prince Harry and Ms Markle.

The journalist wrote on Twitter: “Is it safe to be back on Twitter? Have people – including royal wedding journalist junkies – run out of breath yet? Proof again that GB is an infantilised, escapist nation.”

Ms Dorries replied: “Yasmin, why don’t you just try to be nice? Maybe appreciate just a little the country and the people you have chosen to live, work and benefit from all of your life.”

When Ms Alibhai-Brown responded asking why she should not be allowed to express an opinion, Ms Dorries told her it was "below you to play the race card".

The journalist was born in Uganda and moved to the UK in 1972, when she was in her early twenties.

The row came on the same day that Mr Gove was criticised for describing Ms Markle, who is mixed race, as "exotic".

Speaking alongside Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson at the Westminster launch of a new think tank, Mr Gove joked: “Looking around this evening, an evening when we have five speeches, white wine, a warm room, we’re inevitably reminded of weddings.

“And indeed as I came in and the canapés were being handed out someone said it is a bit like a wedding reception. I did think for a moment, yes it was.

“Because you have this amazing woman from an exotic background, who turns heads, and who is transforming a staid and traditional institution by sheer force of charisma on the one hand. And then you’ve got a lad who’s occasionally walked on the wild side, done some naughty stuff, but at last has a chance for redemption.”

Labour MP Rupa Huq told The Independent: "Michael Gove and Nadine Dorries need to enter the 21st Century and leave their racism at the door.

"With attitudes like this, it’s little wonder that British citizens have been left facing deportation under the ‘hostile environment’ policy."

Responding to the row, Ms Dorries denied she was racist.

She wrote on Twitter: "My comment to [Ms Alibhai-Brown] has caused a bit of a flurry! Can’t read all the comments. I am not racist, almost laughable that I’m being called that, by the rabid left, of course. She made a hateful comment and my response would have been the same to anyone, regardless.

"The wedding was an amazing celebration of unity, it crossed racial boundaries in an atmosphere of love. It was amazing to see. Yasmin was hateful, churlish, mean and I would have said the same thing to [former BBC journalist Gavin Esler, who had criticised her comments] - when you make your living as a journalist expecting people to buy your words and your intent is to influence opinion - when the country has gone all out in a spirit of harmony and celebration - just be a little nicer and if you call those same people infantilised and escapist, expect me to take aim. Because someone has to."