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UKIP's Godfrey Bloom says aid going to 'bongo bongo land' UKIP MEP defends aid to 'bongo bongo land' comments
(about 4 hours later)
A UKIP politician has been captured on film saying British aid should not be sent to "bongo bongo land". A UKIP politician filmed saying British aid should not be sent to "bongo bongo land" has stood by his comments.
MEP Godfrey Bloom was recorded telling a meeting of supporters aid was spent on things like sunglasses and Ferraris. In film obtained by the Guardian, MEP Godfrey Bloom was recorded telling a meeting of supporters aid was spent on items like sunglasses and Ferraris.
He also claimed British aid was spent on fighter planes in Pakistan, which he called "treason" by the UK government.He also claimed British aid was spent on fighter planes in Pakistan, which he called "treason" by the UK government.
The film was obtained by the Guardian. Mr Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, told the paper: "I don't do political correctness." Mr Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, told the BBC giving to charity should be a choice.
In the footage, recorded last month at a meeting in Wordsley, West Midland, Mr Bloom said: "How we can possibly be giving a billion pounds a month, when we're in this sort of debt, to bongo bongo land is completely beyond me. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "What I would argue is that it is for the individual citizen. It's not for the likes of David Cameron to pick up our pockets and send money to the charities of his choice.
"If I want to send money to charity, I will do it of my own accord".
'Beyond me'
He said that "there are people in this country who can't get treatment for cancer, there are people who are waiting in the queue for dialysis machines" and that "charity begins at home".
He added: "If I've offended anybody in bongo bongo land I will write to their ambassador at the Court of St James."
In the footage obtained by the Guardian, recorded last month at a meeting in Wordsley, West Midlands, Mr Bloom said: "How we can possibly be giving £1bn a month, when we're in this sort of debt, to bongo bongo land is completely beyond me.
"To buy Ray-Ban sunglasses, apartments in Paris, Ferraris and all the rest of it that goes with most of the foreign aid."To buy Ray-Ban sunglasses, apartments in Paris, Ferraris and all the rest of it that goes with most of the foreign aid.
"F18s for Pakistan. We need a new squadron of F18s. Who's got the squadrons? Pakistan, where we send the money.""F18s for Pakistan. We need a new squadron of F18s. Who's got the squadrons? Pakistan, where we send the money."
'Double my vote'
A UKIP spokesman told the Guardian the matter was being "discussed right at the very highest level of the party".A UKIP spokesman told the Guardian the matter was being "discussed right at the very highest level of the party".
But Mr Bloom defended his comments when contacted by the newspaper.
According to the paper, he told them: "What's wrong with that? I'm not a wishy-washy Tory. I don't do political correctness. The fact that the Guardian is reporting this will probably double my vote in the north of England."
In the video, Mr Bloom also criticised the European Court of Human Rights and European treaties.In the video, Mr Bloom also criticised the European Court of Human Rights and European treaties.
"You can torture people to death but you jolly well can't give them a full life sentence because that's against their human rights," he said."You can torture people to death but you jolly well can't give them a full life sentence because that's against their human rights," he said.
"We can't hang them because we're now a member of the European Union and it's embedded in the Treaty of Rome.""We can't hang them because we're now a member of the European Union and it's embedded in the Treaty of Rome."
Mr Bloom said he would be "delighted" to "throw the rope over the beam" at the hanging of certain criminals.Mr Bloom said he would be "delighted" to "throw the rope over the beam" at the hanging of certain criminals.
The MEP is no stranger to controversy. In 2010, he was ejected from the European Parliament for directing a Nazi slogan at a German colleague.The MEP is no stranger to controversy. In 2010, he was ejected from the European Parliament for directing a Nazi slogan at a German colleague.
And in 2011, he said small firms would have to be "stark staring mad" to hire young women because of the risk of them needing maternity leave at a later stage.And in 2011, he said small firms would have to be "stark staring mad" to hire young women because of the risk of them needing maternity leave at a later stage.