UKIP candidate caught ranting about ‘f***ing disgusting old poofters’
A UKIP parliamentary candidate has been caught on tape ranting about disgusting “poofters” and “shooting peasants”.
Audio recording has been released by the Mail on Sunday of Kerry Smith – a senior UKIP member who is the party’s PPC in South Basildon and East Thurrock – making a series of seriously offensive comments.
At one point in the recording he rounded on Olly Neville – the former leader of UKIP’s youth wing, who was sacked for supporting gay rights – and the LGBTQ* in UKIP group.
He ranted: “Olly Neville – the sun shines out of his rear end. He’s now setting up BLT UKIP on Facebook.
“What the old poofters groups call themselves. I just call it a BLT like the sandwiches. It’s them letters BLT with a Q on the end, bacon, lettuce and tomato.
“It’s got our logo done with a rainbow. F**king loopy. That’s been approved by the NEC. That’s f**king disgusting.”
He also refers to a Chinese woman by a racial slur, makes false fraud allegations against party leader Nigel Farage, and jokes about “shooting peasants”.
In a statement released through UKIP’s official spokesperson, Mr Smith said: “I wish to issue a wholehearted and unreserved apology to those who I have offended within the party and anyone else.
“With regards to the leadership and management of the party I was completely wrong and my comments were fuelled by frustrations.
“At the time of this recording I was considering my resignation due to major management changes which I have since discovered I completely misread and misunderstood.
“For the record I was also on a strong morphine based prescription medication for a back injury.”
According to the Independent, the party is unlikely to sack Mr Smith as the candidate in South Basildon and East Thurrock over the incident.
LGBTQ* in UKIP have not issued a statement about the rant.
Listen to the clips below: