Andrew Lawrence: not a fan of immigration, liberals, or women on panel shows. Photo: andrewlawrencecomedy.co.uk

Stand-up comedian Andrew Lawrence has been sharply criticised after posting an angry tirade on his Facebook page attacking ‘moronic, liberal’ TV comedians who crack jokes about UKIP.

Despite insisting that he is ‘not a political comic’, Lawrence’s 500 word blogpost hit out at ‘panel shows like Mock The Week’ where ‘aging, balding, fat men, ethnic comedians and women-posing-as-comedians, sit congratulating themselves on how enlightened they are about the fact that UKIP are ridiculous and pathetic.’

‘The reason UKIP have resonated with voters,’ he continues, ‘is because all the other parties are too spineless to tackle the issue of immigration.’

‘For every wonderful, welcome skilled worker our open borders bring into this country, there are also benefit tourists and criminals … Can’t say that I’m a UKIP supporter, but I can see why other people are, and I don’t disrespect them for it.’




Lawrence was also highly critical of the BBC, describing it as a ‘biased organisation’ and adding that ‘the only sorts of political comedians that are welcome within its corridors are those that reflect it’s values.’

The comedian has appeared on several BBC television programmes over the last few years, including Live at the Apollo, Ask Rhod Gilbert and Michael MacIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow. His Radio 4 series, What To Do If You’re Not Like Everybody Else, ran for two series in 2010 and 2011.

Mock the Week host Dara Ó Briain was among the many comedians who responded to Lawrence’s rant on Twitter, saying: ‘Hey Andrew, sorry I’m so aging, bald and fat, but as an an immigrant I’ll retain my disdain for anti-immigrant politics.’