UKIP candidate: ‘Being an arse bandit is nothing to be proud of’

A UKIP candidate has claimed that being an “arse bandit” is nothing to be proud of.

Geoffrey Caton, who made racist and homophobic comments on Facebook shortly after Liverpool Pride in 2013, has become the latest in a long line of UKIP candidates that have caused controversy by posting discriminatory remarks on social media.

Take a look at the comments – which he made back in 2013 – below:

Caton, who is currently running against openly gay Labour candidate Angela Eagle in Wallasey, Merseyside, also shared an image that declared same-sex marriage is a “sin”:

After the posts were discovered, Caton told The Liverpool Echo that he is neither racist or homophobic, and has insisted that his remarks have been taken out of context.

“We are living in modern times now, times change I realise that. We have to move on with the times, I have now, and since then whatever I said obviously wasn’t right then and it’s not right now and I fully believe in being fully inclusive.”

“I believe it tells me in the Bible a man’s purpose is to marry a woman for children to propagate the family,” he continued, explaining that he was merely trying to express his concern over similar Pride events not being held for heterosexuals.

He went on to add that although he supports same-sex marriage in England and Wales, he doesn’t understand why civil partnerships aren’t available for straight couples.

Meanwhile, to mark the release of their General Election manifesto, Attitude has made a handy summary UKIP’s policies which are specific to the LGBT community – take a look here.