The leader of the right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP) has defended an "offensive" comedy segment at a UKIP conference during which a comedian made fun of Muslims, Asians, Somalis and Polish immigrants.
Nigel Farage said those who criticized comic Paul Eastwood's routine were "killing al humour in this country".
Eastwood was performing at a black tie dinner and dance organized by UKIP in the seaside down of Torquay, Devon.
According to the Sunday Mirror, Mr Eastwood started his act by complaining about “bloody political correctness”, before embarking on what the newspaper’s investigators described as “a 45-minute routine littered with stereotypes and tasteless gags”.
Eastwood is said to have imitated an Indian accent and tried chanting the Muslim call to prayer, saying it was a "traditional folk song" in the Midlands, home to large Indian and Pakistani immigrant communities.
He also made allusions to Poland "doing well" at the Olympics, saying they "took home bronze, silver, gold, lead, copper – anything they could get their hands on.”
As for the Somalis, Eastwood reportedly said: “Team Somalia – they had to apologise. Didn’t realise sailing and shooting were two different events”: an apparent reference piracy off Somali waters.
On Sunday Mr Farage said he could not comment on specific jokes but did admit that immigrants had "jollified" Britain and "improved" the food.
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: “I think we're in huge danger here. This was a guy telling jokes about national stereotypes, not racial stereotypes.
We are heading down a road here where we would kill all humour in this country if we tear things to pieces."
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