A UKIP MEP has quit the party, saying it has become "widely perceived as both homophobic and anti-Islamic".

Lord William Dartmouth announced the move with "relief and regret", accusing leader Gerard Batten of moving the party "further and further to the Right".

Real name William Legge, the South West England MEP is a former Tory peer and also the 10th Earl of Dartmouth.

He left UKIP accusing Mr Batten of "hijacking" the party to "campaign against Islam as a religion" and associating himself with "outlandish people and extreme right-wing groups".

"The work of all those who worked so hard in their support of Brexit is being devalued," Lord Dartmouth complained.


Image: UKIP leader Gerard Batten said Lord Dartmouth had done 'very little' for the party

He highlighted Mr Batten's support for Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League.

Lord Dartmouth added he would remain sitting as an independent MEP "according to the principles on which I was elected" and confirmed he would not be joining another political party.

Mr Batten responded by calling on Lord Dartmouth to step down from the European Parliament.

He said: "It is customary when a colleague resigns to express regret. Sadly in this instance that would not be sincere since Lord Dartmouth has done very little if anything to further the interests of UKIP.

"He was one of those people recruited under previous leaders whose sympathies were more with the Conservative Party than with UKIP.

"UKIP is on the rise and we need people who are totally committed to helping us once again become an electoral force in domestic politics. The primary responsibility of our elected members is to do precisely that."