DUP MP Ian Paisley has apologised after retweeting an anti-Islam tweet from controversial columnist and television pundit Katie Hopkins.

The tweet made reference to the murder rate in London being higher than New York in March 2018.

Ms Hopkins then said: "And Ramadan's not yet begun."

Posting on twitter, Mr Paisley said: "Mea culpa earlier today I glanced at a tweet & rt about # of murders in London. Didn't take cognisance of Ramadan ref. Once brought to my attention immediately deleted. Apologise profusely for offence caused."

A DUP spokesperson told the Belfast Telegraph: “Ian Paisley retweeted a comment originally posted on twitter by Katie Hopkins from his personal twitter account.

"He has subsequently removed it. The original tweet was totally inappropriate and the DUP deplores its sentiments. The Party Officers will consider this matter at their next meeting.”

Responding to the Belfast Telegraph's story, Ms Hopkins said on Twitter: "Bless your heart Ian Paisley- thanks for being a loyal secret follower. Big love to the DUP."

She later tweeted the MP might be about to face suspension.

Ms Hopkins is a controversial figure who has attracted criticism in the past for her comments relating to immigration and race.

A Sinn Féin spokesperson had earlier said: "Ian Paisley should immediately withdraw his retweet of this deeply offensive comment and apologise unreservedly to the Muslim community.

"The DUP should also distance itself from the views expressed in the retweet and tell the public how it intends to deal with this matter, if at all, as in the past many in the DUP have gone out of their way to offend the LGBT community, the Irish language community and Irish nationalists, and they have insulted the Muslim community too in the not so distant past.

"This nasty and arrogant disregard the DUP have for whole communities has to end and leadership is required from the top to send a message that comments like these are unacceptable."

Belfast Telegraph