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MEP's remarks 'a joke in poor taste', says Farage | MEP's remarks 'a joke in poor taste', says Farage |
(35 minutes later) | |
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said his party's Scottish MEP should not have compared a Scottish government minister with a convicted terrorist. | UKIP leader Nigel Farage said his party's Scottish MEP should not have compared a Scottish government minister with a convicted terrorist. |
Mr Farage said he thought David Coburn's remarks were a "joke in poor taste" but he would not be taking any action against him. | Mr Farage said he thought David Coburn's remarks were a "joke in poor taste" but he would not be taking any action against him. |
In a newspaper interview, Mr Coburn is alleged to have said: "Humza Yousaf, or as I call him, Abu Hamza". | In a newspaper interview, Mr Coburn is alleged to have said: "Humza Yousaf, or as I call him, Abu Hamza". |
Mr Yousaf called for European officials to discipline the MEP. | |
Scotland's minister for external affairs and international development told BBC Scotland the comment was "Islamophobic" and "among the worst racial slurs" he had ever received. | Scotland's minister for external affairs and international development told BBC Scotland the comment was "Islamophobic" and "among the worst racial slurs" he had ever received. |
The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, condemned the remarks, saying they were "not worthy of any elected member". | |
But the spokesman said the president could not act on remarks made outside parliament. | |
Radical cleric Abu Hamza was sentenced to life in prison for a string of terrorism offences by a judge in New York in January, after being extradited from the UK. | Radical cleric Abu Hamza was sentenced to life in prison for a string of terrorism offences by a judge in New York in January, after being extradited from the UK. |
Hamza, who previously lived in London, was jailed in the UK for seven years in 2006 for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred. | Hamza, who previously lived in London, was jailed in the UK for seven years in 2006 for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred. |
Mr Coburn's comments were reportedly made over the telephone to Daily Mail reporter Alan Roden during a conversation about the BBC Scotland's Big Immigration Debate, which took place earlier this week. | |
The MEP is reported to have said: "Humza Yousaf, or as I call him, Abu Hamza, didn't seem to turn up." | |
Earlier this week a UKIP spokesman denied the comparison had been made and said it was a "slip of the tongue" on Mr Coburn's part. | Earlier this week a UKIP spokesman denied the comparison had been made and said it was a "slip of the tongue" on Mr Coburn's part. |
But Mr Roden said it was neither a misunderstanding or "a joke". | But Mr Roden said it was neither a misunderstanding or "a joke". |
Speaking on BBC Scotland's Scotland 2015 programme on Monday, he said: "David, unsolicited, named Humza Yousaf and used this phrase. It was not banter in a pub, even though it was a chat between a journalist and a politician. It's very serious indeed." | Speaking on BBC Scotland's Scotland 2015 programme on Monday, he said: "David, unsolicited, named Humza Yousaf and used this phrase. It was not banter in a pub, even though it was a chat between a journalist and a politician. It's very serious indeed." |
Speaking on the BBC's Daily Politics programme Mr Farage said: "I haven't spoken to David Coburn about it. I can only guess he's either saying he's a terrorist or he's telling a joke in poor taste. I suspect it's a joke in poor taste. | Speaking on the BBC's Daily Politics programme Mr Farage said: "I haven't spoken to David Coburn about it. I can only guess he's either saying he's a terrorist or he's telling a joke in poor taste. I suspect it's a joke in poor taste. |
When asked if he would be taking action against Mr Coburn he said: "People do make mistakes. I don't think David Coburn should have done that. But am I going to get terribly exercised about it? No." | When asked if he would be taking action against Mr Coburn he said: "People do make mistakes. I don't think David Coburn should have done that. But am I going to get terribly exercised about it? No." |
Mr Yousaf has written to Mr Farage demanding that Mr Coburn, who is Scotland's only UKIP MEP, is expelled from the party. | Mr Yousaf has written to Mr Farage demanding that Mr Coburn, who is Scotland's only UKIP MEP, is expelled from the party. |
The SNP MSP said he was taking legal advice on the matter. | The SNP MSP said he was taking legal advice on the matter. |