Kelvin MacKenzie: 'Beyond parody' to call article about Ross Barkley racist

The Sun columnist Kelvin MacKenzie has been suspended from the newspaper after he expressed "wrong" and "unfunny" views about the people of Liverpool, News UK has said.

Update 8.48pm: Suspended Sun columnist Kelvin MacKenzie has said it is "beyond parody" for critics to describe his controversial article about Everton footballer Ross Barkley as "racist".

Mr MacKenzie told the Press Association: "I had no idea of Ross Barkley's family background and nor did anybody else.