ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A 19-year-old UKIP member has been suspended from university after he made a “series of offensive and inappropriate comments” during lectures and seminars.

Sebastian Walsh, a student at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), said he has been suspended after making comments about the “Islamisation” of Britain and halal meat.

In a letter to Mr Walsh, partly published on Kipper Central, the university said: “Specifically, the allegations […] are that you have made statements within the classroom to the effect of saying: 'that the country is Islamified'; 'that people who do not speak English should not be ‘paid for’ because this is our country'; and 'that the practice of halal food is disgusting and barbaric'; and that you would have to kill yourself if you ever ate halal meat.”

Mr Walsh, who is studying a children, school and families course, told the Daily Mail he had said to fellow students: “I would never touch Subway or KFC because they use halal meat in their products. I don't agree with barbaric slaughter on any sort of animals for a religion.

“We went on to start discussing the Islamisation of our country. And I think Halal meat is contributing to this."

He added: “Then, in another lesson, we were asked about our views on the privatisation of the NHS. I said it should be privatised to the point where if you're not a legal UK citizen you should not be entitled to free healthcare.

“And that's all I said. A week later I got an email stating that the university had received a report from my tutors which said my conduct was unacceptable.”

He was told by the university he was suspended until September 2019 because he had made controversial comments that “breached a number of the University’s conduct regulations, including those relating to harassment and bringing the University into disrepute”.

He was told he could return after signing a “future good conduct and behaviour agreement” and taking diversity training.

Mr Walsh told Kipper Central he would not be signing any agreements that “restricted his freedom of speech”.

In a statement, a UCLan spokesman said: “In this case, a number of official complaints were made by students regarding a series of offensive and inappropriate comments made by Sebastian Walsh during lectures and seminars.

“We cannot divulge the actual comments made by Sebastian as they formed part of a confidential investigation. However, they clearly breached a number of the University’s conduct regulations, including those relating to harassment and bringing the University into disrepute.

“In line with our official procedures, an investigation ensued, and a disciplinary hearing took place. The student has been temporarily suspended for the remainder of the academic year and is aware that on the successful completion of a diversity training course, he will be able to resume his studies.”