24/09/2013

UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom Quits Party EU Group

Godfrey Bloom has announced that he is quitting the UKIP European group to see out the remainder of his term as an independent.

Bloom lost the party whip last week following controversy over a joke that referred to female UKIP activists as "sluts".

The MEP was addressing a meeting during a "women in politics" conference, when he referred to a group of female UKIP activists, who did not clean behind their fridges, as "all sluts".

He told journalists after the meeting that he had been using the word 'slut' as it was originally intended, to refer to woman who were untidy or slovenly.

Just weeks previously, Bloom also featured heavily in the press over other comments made to party activists, in which he referred to "bongo-bongo land".

Removal of the party whip means that while Bloom remains in the party, he cannot participate in formal party business.

(MH/JP)

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