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| Ukip candidate sparks outrage after blaming Aylan Kurdi's 'greedy' parents for his death | Ukip candidate sparks outrage after blaming Aylan Kurdi's 'greedy' parents for his death |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A Ukip candidate has sparked outrage after criticising the parents of the Syrian child pictured washed up dead on a beach - for being "greedy for the good life in Europe". | A Ukip candidate has sparked outrage after criticising the parents of the Syrian child pictured washed up dead on a beach - for being "greedy for the good life in Europe". |
| Peter Bucklitsch, who finished fourth in the Wimbledon constituency at the General Election, shocked Twitter users by claiming that the three-year-old Aylan Kurdi was "well clothed & well fed". | Peter Bucklitsch, who finished fourth in the Wimbledon constituency at the General Election, shocked Twitter users by claiming that the three-year-old Aylan Kurdi was "well clothed & well fed". |
| He suggested the boy's parents should not have risked his life by trying to make the 13-mile journey across the Mediterranean from Turkey to the Greek island of Kos. | He suggested the boy's parents should not have risked his life by trying to make the 13-mile journey across the Mediterranean from Turkey to the Greek island of Kos. |
| In a shocking post on Twitter, he added: "Queue jumping costs". He also made the remarkable claim that Turkey "is not a place where the family was in danger" and said: "Leaving that safe place put the family in peril". | In a shocking post on Twitter, he added: "Queue jumping costs". He also made the remarkable claim that Turkey "is not a place where the family was in danger" and said: "Leaving that safe place put the family in peril". |
| The little Syrian boy was well clothed & well fed. He died because his parents were greedy for the good life in Europe. Queue jumping costs. | The little Syrian boy was well clothed & well fed. He died because his parents were greedy for the good life in Europe. Queue jumping costs. |
| Predictable unthinking outrage. Turkey is not a place where the family was in danger. Leaving that safe place put the family in peril. | Predictable unthinking outrage. Turkey is not a place where the family was in danger. Leaving that safe place put the family in peril. |
| His posts triggered a furious backlash on Twitter, with users describing him as "evil," "heartless" and "unbelievably cruel," while high profile figures such as Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron and ex-footballer Stan Collymore also denounced his remarks. | His posts triggered a furious backlash on Twitter, with users describing him as "evil," "heartless" and "unbelievably cruel," while high profile figures such as Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron and ex-footballer Stan Collymore also denounced his remarks. |
| What a truly awful thing to say @bucklitsch . Let's hope your family never know adversity or war. | What a truly awful thing to say @bucklitsch . Let's hope your family never know adversity or war. |
| Mr Bucklitsch is understood to have been expelled by the Liberal Democrats in 2011 after he stood for the Conservatives in a council election. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, took to Twitter to denounce his comments: | Mr Bucklitsch is understood to have been expelled by the Liberal Democrats in 2011 after he stood for the Conservatives in a council election. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, took to Twitter to denounce his comments: |
| Awful to see the tweet of @bucklitsch. Appalling lack of compassion. I believe we are a warm hearted & caring nation. #refugeeswelcome | Awful to see the tweet of @bucklitsch. Appalling lack of compassion. I believe we are a warm hearted & caring nation. #refugeeswelcome |
| In one resonating response, a user replied to Mr Bucklitsch by editing his tweet so it read: "The little Syrian boy died because his parents wanted life": | In one resonating response, a user replied to Mr Bucklitsch by editing his tweet so it read: "The little Syrian boy died because his parents wanted life": |
| .@bucklitsch I've edited your tweet for you. My pleasure. pic.twitter.com/GiJLzdXfM6 | .@bucklitsch I've edited your tweet for you. My pleasure. pic.twitter.com/GiJLzdXfM6 |
| The overwhelming response to the pictures of the three-year-old toddler has been one of compassion, grief and a desire for Britain to take in its fair share of Syrian refugees. | The overwhelming response to the pictures of the three-year-old toddler has been one of compassion, grief and a desire for Britain to take in its fair share of Syrian refugees. |
| More than a thousand people have backed The Independent's campaign calling on the Government to step up its intake. | More than a thousand people have backed The Independent's campaign calling on the Government to step up its intake. |
| However the Government is continuing to resist the calls, insisting it is already providing enough help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis stemming from the civil war in Syria. | However the Government is continuing to resist the calls, insisting it is already providing enough help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis stemming from the civil war in Syria. |
| A Ukip spokeswoman said Mr Bucklitsch was no longer a candidate or officer of the party and said his opinions on social media "in no way represent the views of Ukip". |