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Godfrey Bloom quits as Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom quits as Ukip MEP
(about 4 hours later)
Godfrey Bloom will sit as an independent MEP until next year's European election but has not quit Ukip, it has been announced. Godfrey Bloom, the MEP whose colourful language and angry swipe at a journalist dominated last week's UK Independence party conference, has announced that he will sit as an independent.
Bloom, an MEP for Yorkshire and Humber, was stripped of the party whip last week following offensive remarks he made about women at a party event and an altercation with a TV journalist. The representative for Yorkshire and Humber was stripped of the party whip last week after referring to women as "sluts" and then appeared to hit a Channel 4 reporter with a booklet.
Bloom said the "new Ukip" was "not really right for me any more". His spokeswoman said it was not clear whether he would seek re-election for a third term next May. Bloom said he has not left Ukip, but added that the "new Ukip" was "not really right for me any more" and that he would no longer sit with the group in Europe. His spokeswoman said it was not clear whether he would seek re-election for a third term next May. He has resisted calls to resign his seat.
Bloom said: "I have felt for some time now that the nw Ukip is not really right for me any more perhaps than New Labour was right for the Dennis 'The beast of Bolsover' Skinner. The senior Ukip MEP made the remarks on Friday after two of his colleagues admitted they did not clean behind the fridge – a complaint previously made by Bloom – as they spoke at a fringe event at the party's autumn conference in London.
The word slut can mean a women who is slatternly but also one who is sexually promiscuous. As he left the event pursued by journalists, Bloom described his comments as a "joke".
He was then asked by Channel 4's Michael Crick why there were no black people pictured on a conference brochure.
Bloom shouted: "What a racist comment is that. How dare you. That's an appalling thing to say. You're picking people out for the colour of their skin. You disgust me, get out of my way.
"Appalling man. Racist. You, sir, are a racist. You take this and you've checked out the colour of people's faces."
He then grabbed the brochure and hit Crick with it before throwing it to the ground. "Disgraceful. You're disgraceful."
In a statement on Tuesday, Bloom said: "I have felt for some time now that the new Ukip is not really right for me any more perhaps than New Labour was right for Dennis 'The beast of Bolsover' Skinner.
"However, our message is clear: self-government. Our wonderful and loyal membership will win through with their dedication and hard work. It has been a pleasure to work with them for 15 years."However, our message is clear: self-government. Our wonderful and loyal membership will win through with their dedication and hard work. It has been a pleasure to work with them for 15 years.
"May I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the thousands of people who have supported me with messages of goodwill in the recent months and particularly in recent days. There have been simply too many to make a personal response, forgive me."May I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the thousands of people who have supported me with messages of goodwill in the recent months and particularly in recent days. There have been simply too many to make a personal response, forgive me.
"I shall sit out my term as an independent and give my wholehearted support to Jane Collins, who is almost certainly going to be the next Ukip MEP and probably a second seat yet to be decided. "I shall sit out my term as an independent and give my wholehearted support to Jane Collins, who is almost certainly going to be the next Ukip MEP. I shall of course retain my membership."
"I shall of course retain my membership." The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, said Bloom's antics had distracted attention from the party's core message, but stressed the party could still make serious inroads at Westminster in 2015 and potentially hold the balance of power after the election.
Bloom had the whip withdrawn after calling women at a conference fringe event slutsand hitting a TV journalist with a copy of the brochure for the gathering in Westminster. Although Bloom insisted the sluts remark was a joke, Farage said the MEP, who is no stranger to controversy, had "gone way over the line".
The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, said Bloom's antics had distracted attention from the party's core message, but stressed they could still make serious inroads at Westminster in 2015 and potentially hold the balance of power after the election.
Bloom insisted the sluts remark was a joke but Farage said the MEP, who is no stranger to controversy, had "gone way over the line".
Following the incident, the Ukip chairman, Steve Crowther, said: "I have withdrawn the whip from Godfrey Bloom, pending a formal disciplinary hearing."Following the incident, the Ukip chairman, Steve Crowther, said: "I have withdrawn the whip from Godfrey Bloom, pending a formal disciplinary hearing."
Party sources said on Tuesday that the temporary suspension had effectively been made permanent and they did not expect Bloom to be a candidate again in May. Party sources said the temporary suspension had effectively been made permanent and they did not expect Bloom to be a candidate again in May.
In August, Bloom was at the centre of further controversy when he said Britain should not be sending aid to "bongo bongo land".
Bloom's behaviour has attracted thousands of comments on the social network Twitter. Lord Prescott wrote: "I think we can call that Bloom and Bust."
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