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UKIP's Godfrey Bloom under fire over 'demeaning' joke UKIP's Godfrey Bloom under fire over 'demeaning' joke
(35 minutes later)
A UKIP politician is facing calls to consider his future after referring to a group of women as "sluts". A UKIP politician faces disciplinary action after joking that a group of female activists were "sluts".
Godfrey Bloom used the word while addressing a "women in politics" event at the party's conference. Godfrey Bloom made the comments while addressing a "women in politics" event at the party's conference.
After being challenged about the comments, he said they had been a joke and that members of the audience had laughed. Challenged afterwards, he said it had been a joke. The remark prompted laughter from some of those present.
UKIP's Diane James said the language was "unacceptable" while party leader Nigel Farage said it was inappropriate. But UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he believed the MEP should lose the party whip, saying the row had overshadowed his earlier conference speech.
Mr Bloom was later filmed hitting a Channel 4 News reporter over the head with a party leaflet. Mr Farage said he did not have the power to suspend him without the authority of the party chairman and governing executive but would recommend sanctions against the Yorkshire and Humber MEP who he said "had gone beyond the pale".
In a fringe meeting at the party's annual conference in London, the Yorkshire and Humber MEP made reference to previous comments he had made about women not cleaning behind the fridge. In a fringe meeting at the party's annual conference in London, Mr Bloom made reference to previous comments he had made about women not cleaning behind the fridge.
When the women at the meeting said they had never cleaned behind their fridges, he said: "This place is full of sluts."When the women at the meeting said they had never cleaned behind their fridges, he said: "This place is full of sluts."
'Behind the fridge''Behind the fridge'
He was appearing on a panel with three female UKIP activists.He was appearing on a panel with three female UKIP activists.
Confronted afterwards about his remarks, Mr Bloom said: "All the girls said, 'None of us clean behind the back of the fridge' and I made a joke and said this place is full of sluts." Confronted afterwards about his remarks, Mr Bloom said: "It was fun. It was a joke and most people in Britain have a sense of humour."
He emphasised it was a joke and said all the women present had "laughed". He said he was using the word as it was originally intended.
The Yorkshire and Humber MEP provoked controversy last month when he talked about British foreign aid going to "bongo-bongo land" - a reference to third world countries. "It means you're untidy, you leave your kit lying around," he told BBC's Newsnight.
Asked about the latest furore, Ms James - one of the most senior female figures in the party - said the language was "demeaning" but "did not reflect the views" of most UKIP members. Laughter can clearly be heard following his comment in an audio recording from inside the meeting, which has been published by the Huffington Post website.
Mr Farage said he needed to establish what had been said before taking action but that if the remarks were accurate, it was "wholly and highly inappropriate". One of the women present, Janice Atkinson - who is a prospective candidate for the party in next year's European elections - said she did not take offence at the remark.
He added: "There comes a point where people cross too far over a line." She suggested that people were "out to get" Mr Bloom after a string of recent controversial comments.
Mr Bloom, who is due to give a speech on defence policy later, was also asked by Channel 4 journalist Michael Crick why there were no non-white faces on a campaign flyer. The word "slut" has different meanings to different generations.
It is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "a woman of dirty, slovenly or untidy habits or appearance" or "a woman or low or loose character".
'Racist'
The MEP provoked controversy last month when he talked about British foreign aid going to "bongo-bongo land" - a reference to third world countries.
Asked about the latest furore, Diane James - one of the most senior female figures in the party - said the language was "demeaning" but "did not reflect the views" of most UKIP members.
Mr Farage said the remarks were "wholly and highly inappropriate" and "there comes a point where people cross too far over a line."
Despite his friendship with Mr Bloom, Mr Farage indicated that he had lost patience with him and his behaviour was distracting from the party's electoral success and new policy initiatives.
Mr Bloom was later filmed hitting Channel 4 News reporter Michael Crick over the head with a party leaflet after he asked him why there were no non-white faces on a campaign flyer.
He responded by accusing the journalist of being "racist".He responded by accusing the journalist of being "racist".
'Earthquake'
The row came just hours after Mr Farage hailed the progress that the party had made in the past 18 months and predicted the party would win next year's European elections.
"My ambition and my conviction is that we can come first across the United Kingdom," he told activists in his conference speech.
"Let us send an earthquake through Westminster politics and let's say we want our country back."
Britain would prosper outside the EU, he argued, and talk of its losing trade was not credible.
The party sought to broaden its appeal beyond its core message of EU withdrawal, announcing policies in recent days on energy and welfare.
But, in a speech dominated by Europe, Mr Farage said the European Commission had "hijacked" the EU's original ideals and the UK would begin a process of "national renewal" by going its own way.