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| UKIP's Kerry Smith apologises for leaked phone call remarks | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A leading UKIP candidate has issued an "unreserved apology" over comments he made in a leaked phone call. | |
| A recording of Kerry Smith's remarks were obtained by the Mail On Sunday. | A recording of Kerry Smith's remarks were obtained by the Mail On Sunday. |
| A UKIP spokesman said they were "the rantings of an angry man" who was on sedatives for an injury at the time. | A UKIP spokesman said they were "the rantings of an angry man" who was on sedatives for an injury at the time. |
| Mr Smith is the party's candidate to contest the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency at the next general election. | Mr Smith is the party's candidate to contest the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency at the next general election. |
| During the recorded conversation, Mr Smith talks about UKIP setting up a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group. | |
| He can be heard jokingly referring to it as BLT UKIP, and adds "what the old poofter groups call themselves". | |
| He jokes about "shooting peasants" from the Essex town of Chigwell and supporting "a peasant's hunt through Chigwell village". | He jokes about "shooting peasants" from the Essex town of Chigwell and supporting "a peasant's hunt through Chigwell village". |
| And he also made comments about the UKIP leadership which he has since retracted. | And he also made comments about the UKIP leadership which he has since retracted. |
| 'Unreserved apology' | 'Unreserved apology' |
| Last week Mr Smith was reinstated as UKIP's candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock, a seat in which the party hopes to make a serious challenge. | Last week Mr Smith was reinstated as UKIP's candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock, a seat in which the party hopes to make a serious challenge. |
| He had earlier been dropped by the party in favour of the former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton. But Mr Hamilton withdrew his candidature ahead of a selection meeting on Thursday. | He had earlier been dropped by the party in favour of the former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton. But Mr Hamilton withdrew his candidature ahead of a selection meeting on Thursday. |
| A UKIP spokesman confirmed to the BBC that Mr Smith had apologised to the party's leader Nigel Farage. | A UKIP spokesman confirmed to the BBC that Mr Smith had apologised to the party's leader Nigel Farage. |
| He described the comments as "the ranting of an angry man" and added that at the time they were made, Mr Smith was on sedatives for an injury. | He described the comments as "the ranting of an angry man" and added that at the time they were made, Mr Smith was on sedatives for an injury. |
| In a statement made by a UKIP spokesman on his behalf, Mr Smith said: "I wish to issue a wholehearted and unreserved apology to those who I have offended within the party and anyone else. | In a statement made by a UKIP spokesman on his behalf, Mr Smith said: "I wish to issue a wholehearted and unreserved apology to those who I have offended within the party and anyone else. |
| "With regards to the leadership and management of the party I was completely wrong and my comments were fuelled by frustrations." | "With regards to the leadership and management of the party I was completely wrong and my comments were fuelled by frustrations." |