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UKIP’s new interim leader has shared a dinner table with a right-wing activist recorded making racist comments in a pub.

MEP Gerard Batten, who replaced ousted Henry Bolton, spoke at a black-tie dinner hosted by the Traditional Britain Group in 2011.

It was presided over by vice-chairman Gregory Lauder-Frost – who we revealed last month was secretly filmed by a Hope Not Hate activist calling Vanessa Feltz a “fat Jewish s**g” and Baroness Lawrence a “n*****”.

In a speech from the 2011 dinner posted on YouTube, Mr Batten said he was “honoured” to be invited.

A UKIP spokesman said: “Mr Batten does not share the views of TBG.

(Image: Wheatley/WENN)

"He is invited by many organisations to speak and TBG had a list of reputable speakers such as Simon Heffer previous to his invitation.

"Since he attended things have come to light. He would not consider a further invitation.”

After last month’s story, Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said he regretted attending a TBG dinner five years ago.

TBG branded that story a “smear”, saying Mr Lauder-Frost “denies the comments” and has never met the activist.

(Image: Internet Unknown)

Last night, TBG administrative secretary Richard Curry added: “Being an invited guest to an annual dinner is not a crime.”

Mr Batten became interim UKIP leader on Saturday after Henry Bolton, whose ex-girlfriend Jo Marney posted racist messages about Meghan Markle, lost a dramatic no confidence vote.

Yesterday Mr Bolton, who has not ruled out legal action against UKIP chiefs, revealed he spoke to Ms Marney hours after he was ousted.

He added: “It’s a bit early to say what’s going to happen in my private life.”

Meanwhile Mr Batten has claimed his description of Islam as a “death cult” after the Westminster terror attack was “factually historically true”.

(Image: PA)

“Anybody that cares to look at the history of Islam over the past 1,400 years will see that that is true,” he said.

He added: “It glorifies death. They believe in propagating their religion by killing other people and martyring themselves and going and getting their 72 virgins. Not all of them - that’s not saying that all of them do believe that or do that - I’m saying that a significant minority believe that and they are the problem.”

UKIP must call a leadership election within 90 days. Mr Batten has not ruled out standing for the leader’s role permanently, and odds on him taking the job shortened to 5/1 yesterday.