Philip Davies (Shipley) said he could see no difference between the organisation and a "white police association" and it should be scrapped.

During Commons exchanges on coming parliamentary business, Mr Davies demanded: "Could we have a debate on the Black Police Association, which is a very divisive organisation which is stirring up racial tensions?

"If there was a white police association, the Leader of the House would be the first in the line to be outraged about it and I can't see the difference either legally or morally between a white police association and a black police association.

"Can we have a debate about this because I, like many other people in the country, think it should be scrapped."

A Conservative Party spokesman said last night that Mr Davies' comments did not represent the views of the party.

The spokesman said: "Everyone of us, including the Black Police Association, has a role to play in promoting a diverse police service."

Earlier in the chamber, Commons leader Harriet Harman rebutted his remarks, saying the association existed because there had historically been an "under-representation" of black and Asian officers in the police.

Ms Harman told MPs it was important that the Metropolitan Police "command the confidence of the diverse communities in London".

She also claimed former Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair had done much to increase ethnic diversity.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said Mr Davies' comments showed that the "Tories are still out of touch with the realities of modern Britain".