The decision to extend the vote to middle class people and women in the nineteenth century was a mistake which should be reversed, a Ukip candidate has suggested.

Magnus Nielsen, who is standing for the party in West Hampstead said the UK should start reducing the number of people entitled to vote.

"I sometimes think the people who fought for the vote in 1832 and 1888 and so forth, trying to extend the franchise were probably doing the wrong thing," he told an election hustings in West Hampstead.

"I think perhaps we should start reducing the franchise."

The 1832 Reform Act extended the vote beyond the aristocracy in England and Wales, while the 1888 County Councils act extended the right to vote in local elections to female ratepayers.

Nielsen suggested that removing the vote from certain groups including criminals would increase its value.

"Generally speaking when you start taking things away, or threatening to take things away, people start clamouring and say they really want it."

Nielsen hit the headlines recently after posting a series of Islamophobic comments on his Facebook profile.

He claimed that Islam was "organised crime" and Muhammad it's "gang leader".

He also agreed to speak at a number of EDL rallies whilst standing to become an MP in the 2010 general election, after reportedly stating that Muhammad was a "criminal psychopath" and "psychiatrically deranged."

A Ukip spokesperson said last month that they would investigate Nielsen's comments about Islam. However, it is not clear what, if any, action has been taken against him.