Ukip is party of 'fascist nutters' says Kilroy-Silk

Robert Kilroy-Silk, the TV presenter turned politician, has dismissed some of his former colleagues in the UK Independence Party as "bloody right-wing fascist nutters".

Robert Kilroy-Silk, the TV presenter turned politician, has dismissed some of his former colleagues in the UK Independence Party as "bloody right-wing fascist nutters".

In a BBC3 documentary, Kilroy: Behind the Tan, to be screened tomorrow at 9pm, he admits he did not know who he was getting involved with when he made his highly publicised entry into fringe politics last year.

"The trouble is, some are serious and some are nutters," he said. "And you get the lot. Is this one serious? Or is this another nutter? I didn't know what I joined. What's been irritating is that I've been defending some of these bloody right-wing fascist nutters."

Mr Kilroy-Silk's arrival helped to boost Ukip's vote in the European elections, in which they won 12 seats in the Strasbourg Parliament last May, beating the Liberal Democrats into third place. But having failed in his bid to take over the leadership from the little-known former Tory MP Roger Knapman, Mr Kilroy-Silk launched his own political party earlier this month.

Mr Kilroy-Silk would not allow the documentary-makers to film all of his interactions with fellow Ukip MEPs, explaining: "I was embarrassed at their behaviour, their naivety and their immaturity, and I didn't want you to see them behaving that way."

One scene captured an exchange between Mr Kilroy-Silk and an MEP from the right-wing League of Polish Families, allied to Ukip, who said he believed homosexuality is a sin. Mr Kilroy-Silk replied: "I'm relieved. You see, I don't have to defend them any more."