Ukip allegedly lined up anti-gay preacher as parliamentary candidate

A local candidate for Coventry South stood aside to allow a new candidate, believed to be George Hargreaves, to be chosen

George Hargreaves (BBC)

Ukip has dropped plans to appoint a notorious anti-gay Christian preacher as one of its parliamentary candidates, despite allegedly asking a local contender to stand aside.

George Hargreaves, the former Christian Party leader, was reportedly in the running to become the prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) for Ukip at the upcoming general election in the Coventry South, but widespread criticism led to the plan being abandoned.

Colin Stubbs, the Coventry Ukip branch chairman welcomed the decision. “I don’t know how George Hargreaves got involved with the party or how he was chosen. But we will put this behind us and the pressure now is on the elections,” he told the Coventry Telegraph.

Mr Hargreaves was previously a music producer and wrote the hit 1980s songs “So Macho” and “Cruising,” for gay-icon Sinitta.

He then went on to stand for the Scottish Parliament in 2007 as a Scottish Christian Party candidate against bisexual MSP Patrick Harvie, calling his sexuality “sinful” and said: “This is not about gay rights, it’s about gay wrongs.”

The colourful politician has also claimed that gays should “repent of their sins and turn to Christ,” according to Pink News.

Perhaps most bizarrely, when campaigning in the Welsh Assembly elections in 2007, he called for the country’s flag to be banned, calling it “nothing less than the sign of Satan” and added: “We will not allow this evil symbol of the devil to reign over Wales for another moment.”

The party’s previous candidate for the constituency, Mark Taylor, who stood aside for a new selection process to take place, was delighted to have been asked to contest the seat a second time for Ukip.

“I’m pleased because I was initially frustrated at being asked to stand aside by the national party HQ’s candidate team.” He told the local paper.

A Ukip party spokesman “categorically” denied that Mr Hargreaves was ever an official PPC for the party.