A leading Ukip member who organised the party’s involvement in London Pride has warned people think it is ‘overflowing with racists, homophobes and bigots’.

Richard Hendron, who stood as a general election candidate, told a party conference that Nigel Farage had done ‘no favours’ with his remarks in the televised leadership debates condemning the treatment of foreign-born HIV sufferers on the NHS.

At the Young Independence event in Nottingham, which was attended by Mr Farage, Mr Hendron warned Ukip must ‘radically change’ its approach if it is to survive as it is seen as being only for ‘white heterosexual males’.

Gay Ukip candidate Richard Hendron has warned his party the public think they are 'racists and bigots'

He said the party’s approach to dealing with its homophobic perception had been a ‘catastrophic failure’ that had cost, ‘tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands’ of votes.

‘Ukip does not have the trust and confidence of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community,’ he said.

‘We are perceived to be on the side of the bigots, as opposed to the side of say the gay lesbian couple who may be immigrants, but none the less who want to work hard, provide for their family and contribute to society.

‘We say we are a people’s party, a party of the people. The fact is the perception of Ukip as a party for all is correct, providing all is only white heterosexual male.

‘Ukip is not seen as a party that supports diversity, Values difference or tackles discrimination.

‘The perception is that Ukip is overflowing of homophobes racist and bigots of all descriptions.’

Under fire: A Ukip member has claims Nigel Farage has done ‘no favours’ with his remarks in the televised leadership debates about HIV

Mr Hendron, a former police inspector who works as a criminal defence barrister, criticised Mr Farage’s comments during the general election campaign about NHS treatment of people with HIV.

He said: ‘We must show more sensitivity and understanding. To be clear choosing HIV medication as a topic to target did no one least of all Nigel Farage any favours.

‘People living with HIV and Aids in the country already suffer unimaginable stigma and Nigel or the party did not help that.

‘Why Nigel chose HIV to target over less stigmatised conditions such as cancer is beyond me. We must not defend the un-defensible.’

Mr Hendron told those in the room who disagreed with him to, ‘open your eyes because if they were open you would realise just how badly’ the party is perceived.

Last month Mr Hendron organised Ukip’s involvement in London Pride. The group were given permission to take part in the march, but then had this withdrawn after the organisers changed their minds.

A group of party members still chose to attend the event and joined the march.

Mr Hendron said he believed the group had been banned from taking part, ‘because the left wing organisers did not like our perceived right wing politics, but also partly because, and regrettably the perception is that Ukip does anything But support LGBT issues, anything but support LGBT rights and anything but support equality.’

He added: ‘I had many people speak to me along the route and ask, “How is it as a gay man can I could support a homophobic party”.

‘I also had many people say to me, “You must be brave being openly Gay in Ukip”.

‘It was only at Pride that I fully realised the gravity of the situation that Ukip is in.’

Controversial comment: Nigel Farage condemned the treatment of foreign-born HIV sufferers on the NHS during the live TV election debates

He added: ‘I am sure that many of you sitting there will be thinking right now, “Ukip’s not homophobic, Ukip’s not racist, and to a large extent I agree.

‘But just simply saying we are not homophobic does nothing to tackle those within the party who may be.

‘Simply saying we are not homophobic does nothing to win the support, trust & confidence of such communities.

‘We must stop being in denial, stop talking sound bites, we must stop talking and put words into action.’