Ukip’s Brexit spokesman has said the Government should be able to deport EU citizens who do not work or pay taxes once Britain leaves the EU.

In an apparent departure from a policy of guaranteeing all EU nationals the right to remain in the UK after Brexit, which is widely accepted even among leading Brexiteers, Gerard Batten said strict new controls should be introduced.

He suggested those who were out of work or homeless should be sent back to their country of origin.

“What the British Government should do is write to every one of the other 27 EU member states and say we will guarantee your citizens’ rights if you guarantee our citizens’ rights,” he was quoted by The Guardian as saying.

“So, for example, in Poland we have about 30-odd thousand people and they have about 900,000 here. So why wouldn’t they do that?

“But I think that is the way the Government needs to approach things on a country by country basis in order to protect our citizens’ rights so we also protect their rights."

But he added: “We must also have the right not to keep people who for example do not work, never pay taxes or are beggars or criminals.

“I think it is an idiotic immigration policy that says we will take anybody irrespective of what value they may or may not produce to our country.”

Key Faces of UKIP Show all 11 1 /11 Key Faces of UKIP Key Faces of UKIP Nigel Farage Getty Key Faces of UKIP United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Migration spokesman Steven Woolfe addresses supporters and media personnel in central London Getty Key Faces of UKIP Robert Kilroy-Silk, former television presenter and newly elected member of the European Parliament for the UK Independence Party (UKIP), shows a placard against the European Constitution in front of the Houses of Parliament Getty Key Faces of UKIP Mark Reckless, Director of Policy Development addresses party members during the UK Independence Party annual conference at Doncaster Racecourse Getty Key Faces of UKIP Gerard Batten MEP poses with protesters outside parliament Creative Commons Key Faces of UKIP Diane James gives an address at the UKIP Autumn Conference in Bournemouth Getty Key Faces of UKIP Douglas Carswell MP speaks to party members and supporters during the UK Independence Party annual conference Getty Key Faces of UKIP Suzanne Evans, Deputy Party Chairman of UK Independence Party (UKIP) speaks during the launch of UKIP's election manifesto Getty Key Faces of UKIP Peter Whittle, the UK Independence Party Member of the London Assembly, is interviewed in central London Getty Key Faces of UKIP MEP Mike Hookem during a visit to Concept Metal Products & Co Ltd Getty Key Faces of UKIP Paul Nuttall, Deputy Leader of the UK Independence Party speaks at a Say NO, Believe in Britain debate at Carn Brea Leisure Centre in Pool near Redruthon Getty

Mr Batten is no stranger to controversy. Last week the London MEP published a blog post in the wake of the Westminster attack in which he called Islam “a death cult, born and steeped in fourteen hundred years of violence and bloodshed, that propagates itself by intimidation, violence and conquest”.

Equality campaigners were quick to condemn the comments as “deeply insulting and highly inflammatory”.

A spokesperson for Hope Not Hate told The Independent: “Even for UKIP and Gerard Batten, this is shocking and disgusting.

“The ideologues of the Islamic State who inspired Khalid Masood could hardly be more pleased that fools like Batten walk right into their trap: terror attacks aren’t just about killing people, they’re about sowing fear, suspicion and division.”

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Meanwhile, the party’s leader, Paul Nuttall, has said Ukip will undergo a major rebranding exercise that could include abandoning the purple and yellow colours and pound sign from its logo.

“Everything is up for debate,” Mr Nuttall said.