Nigel Farage defends 'rough diamond' Ukip candidate over 'chinky' comment

Nigel Farage has appeared to defend controversial comments made by disgraced former Ukip candidate Kerry Smith, suggesting Smith used the terms "chinky" and "poofters" because of his "council estate background".

Smith resigned as Ukip's prospective parliamentary candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock after he was heard calling gay party members "poofters" and referring to someone as a "Chinky bird" in phone calls.

"I'm a bit sad," Mr Farage said at Smith's decision to resign.

"Kerry Smith is a rough diamond. A council estate boy from the East End of London, left school early and talks in a way that a lot of people from that background do," Farage told LBC.

Mr Farage discusses the Kerry Smith row in the 22nd minute of the clip

Host Nick Ferrari questioned Mr Farage's defence of his former colleague, prompting the Ukip leader to ask the presenter: “If you and your mates were going out for a Chinese, what do you say you’re going for?”

Ferrari replied: "I honestly would not use the word 'Chinky' -would you?"

“No, but a lot of people would,” Farage said.

“I think we’re very snobbish in London about condemning people perhaps for the colloquial language they use, particularly if it’s not meant with really unpleasant intent," he added.

Farage said Smith was a "genuine fella" but "was not suitable to be a parliamentary candidate".