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Douglas Carswell: Ukip must show it has inclusive agenda Douglas Carswell: Ukip must show it has inclusive agenda
(about 3 hours later)
The Ukip MP Douglas Carswell has told the party it must show it is inclusive and not blame immigrants for Britain’s woes if it is to become a serious force.The Ukip MP Douglas Carswell has told the party it must show it is inclusive and not blame immigrants for Britain’s woes if it is to become a serious force.
The former Tory, whose byelection victory in October has made him one of Ukip’s highest-profile faces, said a dislike of foreigners was “not merely offensive but absurd”. The former Conservative, whose byelection victory in Clacton in October has made him one of Ukip’s highest-profile faces, said a dislike of foreigners was “not merely offensive but absurd”.
Efforts by Nigel Farage’s party to shake off claims of unpalatable views in its ranks have been made harder by a string of offensive comments by candidates and other figures. Efforts by Nigel Farage’s party to shake off claims of unpalatable views in its ranks have been made harder by a string of offensive comments by candidates and other high profile figures.
It was forced to distance itself from a claim by Trevor Shonk, a Kent councillor, that the established parties “have made the country racist” because of the influx of immigrants.It was forced to distance itself from a claim by Trevor Shonk, a Kent councillor, that the established parties “have made the country racist” because of the influx of immigrants.
And Kerry Smith was axed as a would-be MP after it emerged that he mocked gay members of the party as “poofters”, joked about shooting people from Chigwell in a “peasant hunt” and referred to a woman as a “Chinky bird”. Kerry Smith was axed as a parliamentary candidate after he mocked gay members of the party as “poofters”, joked about shooting people from Chigwell in a “peasant hunt” and referred to a woman as a “Chinky bird”.
Farage defended the language, saying Smith was a “rough diamond” who “speaks in a way that a lot of people from that background do”.Farage defended the language, saying Smith was a “rough diamond” who “speaks in a way that a lot of people from that background do”.
But Carswell suggested that unless Ukip showed it did not tolerate such views, the party would struggle to convert its rise in popularity into an influential presence at Westminster. But Carswell suggested that unless Ukip showed it did not tolerate such views, the party would struggle to convert its rise in popularity into an influential presence at Westminster. “Far from being a party that tolerates pejorative comments about people’s heritage and background, Ukip in 2015 has to show that we have a serious internationalist agenda,” he wrote in the Mail on Sunday.
“Far from being a party that tolerates pejorative comments about people’s heritage and background, Ukip in 2015 has to show that we have a serious internationalist agenda,” he wrote in the Mail on Sunday.
“Ukip has had a remarkable year. No longer a mere protest party, we won the European elections and showed that we have what it takes to win seats in parliament. Ahead of May’s general election, we now have to show the whole country that we have what it takes to win big. That means an optimistic, internationalist and inclusive agenda for the whole country.”“Ukip has had a remarkable year. No longer a mere protest party, we won the European elections and showed that we have what it takes to win seats in parliament. Ahead of May’s general election, we now have to show the whole country that we have what it takes to win big. That means an optimistic, internationalist and inclusive agenda for the whole country.”
Carswell wrote: “Preparing for the future means putting in place an immigration system capable of saying a cheery, welcoming ‘yes’ to doctors from Singapore or scientists from south Asia, and a polite ‘no, thank you’ to someone with a criminal record, or an inclination towards welfare dependence.Carswell wrote: “Preparing for the future means putting in place an immigration system capable of saying a cheery, welcoming ‘yes’ to doctors from Singapore or scientists from south Asia, and a polite ‘no, thank you’ to someone with a criminal record, or an inclination towards welfare dependence.
“Angry nativism must have no part in it. No Ukip candidate should ever make the mistake of blaming outsiders for the failings of political insiders in Westminster.”“Angry nativism must have no part in it. No Ukip candidate should ever make the mistake of blaming outsiders for the failings of political insiders in Westminster.”