Current Affairs

Ex-UKIP candidate who ranted about ‘disgusting poofters’ to stand as independent

Jan 09 2015
Written by Nick Duffy

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

Former UKIP candidate Kerry Smith – who ranted about “f**king disgusting” poofters – will stand for Parliament as an independent.

Mr Smith was the party’s candidate in key seat South Basildon and East Thurrock – but was forced to step down after recording leaked of him making a series of seriously offensive comments.

In the recording Mr Smith ranted about “f**king disgusting old poofters”, called a Chinese woman a “Chinky bird”, and joked about “shooting peasants”.

He blamed the outbursts on his pain medication – but stood down from UKIP to avoid embarrassing the party further.

However, the disgraced candidate still intends to stand for parliament – as an independent.

UKIP told the BBC that Mr Smith was “entitled to stand” as an independent candidate – and that he is “his own man”.

The party is yet to select a candidate to replace Mr Smith – after controversy surrounding former Tory Neil Hamilton.

UKIP MEP David Coburn claimed recently that “equality Nazis” in the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties are trying to ban sex.

The Scottish MEP – who is the party’s most senior gay politician – said: “If you want an authoritarian party, there’s nobody more authoritarian than the Lib Dems or Labour party.

“They’ll tell you eat your five a day, no smoking, no drinking, no sex, no nothing.”

When questioned on banning sex, he added: “They’re getting round to it. What I call the equality Nazis, people who want everyone to fit into their stereotypes.”