Britain has heard enough of 'appalling' Ukip, says Cameron: Prime Minister launches scathing attack on rival party's 'politics of anger'

David Cameron said Ukip has condemned itself with unpleasant remarks

His strongest attack on the party comes in run-up to European elections

Branded Nigel Farage's comments on Romanians as 'frankly unpleasant'



David Cameron ferociously condemned Ukip last night saying voters had heard enough of its ‘appalling’ views.

In the closing days of campaigning for European and local elections, the Prime Minister said Ukip represented the ‘politics of anger’.

Decent, hardworking people who were tempted to vote for the anti-European party should think again, he said.

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David Cameron said Ukip leader Nigel Farage's comments on Romanians was 'frankly unpleasant'

‘They are being found out,’ added Mr Cameron in his strongest attack on the party since he took office.

‘Ukip have condemned themselves during this campaign with a succession of pretty unpleasant remarks. The whole country has heard enough to know what sort of party it is.’

The Prime Minister declined to describe Ukip leader Nigel Farage as racist but said his suggestion last week that he would be uncomfortable if Romanians moved next door was ‘frankly unpleasant’.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Mail, Mr Cameron also:

Dismissed calls from senior Tories to state he would campaign for a British exit from the EU if he fails to renegotiate looser ties;

Suggested a by-election in Newark next month was a key test of the Tories’ ability to burst the Ukip bubble;

Confirmed he will not resign if Scotland votes for independence in September.

Polls suggest Ukip is on course for a historic victory in Thursday’s elections to the European Parliament, despite weeks of allegations of sexism, homophobia and racism among its candidates.

Polls suggest Ukip is on course for a historic victory in Thursday¿s elections to the European Parliament

An Opinium poll for the Mail put Ukip on course to win 31 per cent, ahead of Labour on 29 per cent, the Conservatives on 20 per cent and the Lib Dems tied with the Greens on a miserable 5 per cent.

Mr Farage was condemned by politicians from the three main parties after declaring in a radio interview last week that everyone knows ‘the difference’ between Romanians and Germans. Mr Farage’s second wife Kirsten is German.

The Ukip leader yesterday attempted to backtrack, saying the vast majority of Romanians were ‘good people’.



‘If I gave the impression... that I was discriminating against Romanians then I apologise certainly for that,’ the Ukip leader said on a campaign visit to Ramsgate. He said people would – rather than should – be concerned about Romanian neighbours.

He added: ‘Can we just have an honest appraisal of what has happened to post-communist Romania? Across the whole of the European Union, amongst all 28 member states, 7 per cent of all crime is committed by 240 Romanian gangs.’

Labour leader Ed Miliband last night said Mr Farage was guilty of a racial slur, adding: ‘He is certainly right to say he is sorry.’





Ukip have condemned themselves during this campaign with a succession of pretty unpleasant remarks - David Cameron



Three prominent Labour figures – Yvette Cooper, Diane Abbott and David Lammy – went further, saying Mr Farage’s remarks were racist.

Asked if he would feel uncomfortable with Romanian neighbours, Mr Cameron said: ‘No. What was wrong with that remark is it just branded all people the same because they come from one country. It was an appalling thing to say.

‘They [Ukip] are being found out. During this campaign we have had the most extraordinary succession of statements from Ukip candidates and backers that do tell a story.

‘We’ve had financial backers and candidates saying black people should go back to Africa, that it’s alright to rape your wife.’

The Prime Minister added: ‘I understand there are lots of very hardworking, decent people in this country who are tempted by a vote for Ukip. They want to see the economy recover faster, they want to see action on immigration, they want a welfare system that encourages work properly and they want a say on Europe.

‘I want to deliver all of that. It isn’t necessary to get action on all these things to support Ukip.’

In 2006, as leader of the opposition, Mr Cameron said Ukip contained ‘fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists’, but has shied away from such rhetoric since.

In an interview with the Mail, Cameron also refused to back an EU exit if he fails to secure looser ties

Mr Cameron suggested it would be vital to prevent Ukip winning the June 5 by-election triggered by the resignation of disgraced MP Patrick Mercer in Newark.

‘The people of Newark were let down by their MP. This was a very bad scandal. I want them to have the best representation in Parliament,’ the Prime Minister said.

Asked if he thought making it clear he would recommend a British exit from the EU unless he got what he wanted would strengthen his hand, Mr Cameron insisted: ‘No I don’t. Judge me by results. A lot of people said “You’ll get nowhere, EU leaders will ignore it”. That’s not what has happened.’

He confirmed he will not quit if the Scots vote to break away from the UK in a referendum on September 18. Even some senior Tories privately suggest Mr Cameron will face calls to go if he is the prime minister who presides over the end of the 300-year-old Union.