When Mr Howard was Leader of the Tories, he said: “Political correctness is a culture that offends our nation’s sense of tolerance, our sense of honesty, our sense of balance. “Wherever there is a conflict between political correctness and common sense…. I stand firmly on the side of common sense. “Common sense, decency, humanity are qualities which the British people have in abundance. These are the qualities we need to cherish.” But Labour’s Mr McCartney countered: “This is a desperate speech from an increasingly desperate leader but not even John Prescott could rescue this drowning man.