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A SENIOR UKIP official has quit the party after Scottish leader David Coburn banned him from helping a food bank.

Coburn demanded Glasgow branch vice-chairman Cailean Mongan stop a planned charity drive because “no one in this country is going hungry”.

The buffoon MEP also branded food banks “left-wing propaganda invented by the Labour Party and the SNP ”.

His furious outburst came after Mongan, 39, and other Glasgow branch members decided to support their local food bank in the run-up to Christmas.

Mongan was stunned when other UKIP members reacted angrily.

And the final straw came when Coburn tried to ban the drive.

Mongan, who has also quit as a Holyrood candidate, said in his resignation letter: “Almost straight away the branch was attacked on Facebook by Caroline Santos (chair of Argyll and Bute) who objected to the branch helping the working poor.

“I strongly disagree with Mrs Santos on these issues. On December 6, I was telephoned by David Coburn who instructed me the collection was not to go ahead as ‘no one in this country is going hungry’ and food banks ‘are left-wing propaganda invented by the Labour Party and the SNP’.”

Mongan, who is from Chester but has lived in Glasgow for 12 years, said last night he was “disgusted” by Coburn’s attitude to the poor.

(Image: PA/David Cheskin)

He said: “This attitude of the top brass in UKIP Scotland is portraying an unacceptable image of the party and turning support away from UKIP in Scotland.”

Coburn was also slammed by Scotland’s leading provider of foodbanks, the Trussell Trust.

They pointed out that party leader Nigel Farage backed plans to invest in food banks in last year’s UKIP general election manifesto.

Trussell Trust Scotland manager Ewan Gurr said: “Our doors are open to elected representatives, including Mr Coburn, to meet with us and see for themselves the dignified, confidential and supportive service we provide.”

(Image: PA)

Coburn – who has a long history of idiotic comments – last night confirmed he had blocked the food bank drive.

He claimed he did not totally disagree with food banks but added: “I’m afraid we didn’t see eye to eye with this chap.

“We wanted to do a collection for soldiers – good Scottish lads – who are fighting in places like Afghanistan. He saw it differently. There was a difference of opinion and he’s left.”

SNP MSP Sandra White said: “This letter contains very serious allegations, exposing the poisonous views at the heart of UKIP. Their toxic policies and lack of understanding of Scotland’s priorities rank among the many reasons why voters in Scotland continue to reject them.”

Coburn previously caused controversy by referring to an SNP minister as “Humza Yousaf, or as I call him Abu Hamza”. Hamza is a radical cleric jailed in the US for supporting terrorism.