New UKIP leader: I’ve got no problem with diversity because my deputy is an ‘open homosexual’
New UK Independence Party leader Paul Nuttall has defended his record on diversity record because his deputy is an ‘open homosexual’.
The Brexit-backing UK Independence Party elected European Parliament member Paul Nuttall as its leader today in its second leadership election of the year, following the resignations of Nigel Farage and Diane James.
Mr Nuttall, who was elected leader with two-thirds of the vote, is an opponent of LGBT rights who has attacked plans to challenge homophobia in schools and called for people with HIV to be banned from the UK.
However, in an interview with the BBC immediately following his election, he insisted that he does not have a problem with diversity because he appointed gay UKIP politician Peter Whittle as his deputy.
Mr Whittle is a member of the London Assembly and was the party’s candidate for Mayor of London in 2015.
Facing questions about his all-white and all-male appointments so far, Mr Nuttall said: “Oh come on, that’s splitting hairs… I’ve literally appointed three people! If you want diversity, Peter Whittle my deputy is an open homosexual, if you want diversity.
“There will be lots of women who will be announced in my new team over the next 72 hours.”
Mr Nuttall previously called to ban people with HIV from the UK.
He said: “There are around 60 countries that currently bar people who are HIV-positive from entry, according to the United Nations, and we should follow suit.”
“The cost of treating someone with HIV in the UK is estimated at around £18,000 per year, although this does vary depending on the type and number of drugs taken and the stage of the infection.”
“We should introduce systems similar to those in Australia and Canada where long term admission is basically barred if migrants health conditions are considered a danger to public health or safety or would cause excessive demand on the health care system.”
Mr Nuttall has specifically courted the anti-LGBT vote, claiming UKIP is the “natural home” for Catholic voters who are angry over same-sex marriage and other social reforms.
He insisted in 2015: “Twelve percent of Catholics have already indicated that they are going to vote, or have already voted, UKIP.
“On moral issues, we, more than any other political party, are more in line with Catholic thought. Whether it’s on gender-choice abortion or same-sex marriage, we are absolutely 100 percent behind the Catholic Church.”
Mr Nuttall, who was elected leader with two-thirds of the vote, is an opponent of LGBT rights who has attacked plans to challenge homophobia in schools.
Condemning a plan for LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education, he said: “Children deserve their innocence, which is precious and already under attack from every direction. It needs to be protected not defiled by those tasked with their care.
“If [Labour’s] Tristram Hunt thinks this is a progressive move he is totally wrong and his justification that it will help tackle homophobic bullying is just politically correct nonsense.
“This proposal is just further evidence of how out of touch Labour is with the families they purport to represent and a very good reason not to vote for them.”
“Rather than helping tackle problems of domestic violence and rape in future years, as given as another woolly reason for introduction, it is going to confuse and worry these little children.”
