Godfrey Bloom leaves UKIP

Controversial former Yorkshire MEP Godfrey Bloom has announced he is resigning from the UK Independence Party.

The party withdrew the whip from him in September last year after he described a room full of women as "sluts" following a rant about racism.

Mr Bloom said he left "with a heavy heart", and blamed the speaking ban imposed on him by the party and the behaviour of its "Guru-like" Chairman Steve Crowther.

He also issued a stark warning to one of its newest members - Douglas Carswell, telling him to "watch his back".