Ukip would get rid of Minister for Women and Equalities, says MEP Janice Atkinson

Her speech was met with a round of applause at a Ukip conference

Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson and party leader Nigel Farage (OPTIONAL,TTL,CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)

A Ukip MEP said that she would scrap the role of a minister dedicated to policies regarding women, ethnic minority and LGBT issues.

Janice Atkinson – who infamously apologised for referring to a Thai supporter of Ukip as a “ting-tong from somewhere” – said she would “not be having a Minister for Women and Equalities”.

She announced decision about the role, which is currently held by Nicky Morgan at the Spring Party Conference yesterday in the seaside town of Margate, in the hope that the party wins the General Election in May.

Ms Atkinson, a prospective parliamentary candidate for Folkstone and Hythe, was given a loud round of applause from audience members after her statement.

Meanwhile, a dance troupe from The Producers musical showed off their moves to the tune of “Springtime for Hitler” outside the conference while wearing swastikas in front of a huge white tank.

Ms Atkinson is also reported to have said yesterday, at a Women's Networking event opposite the conference, that the country needs fewer women hairdressers.

Ms Atkinson showing protesters what she thinks of them (Facebook/Maria Pizzey)

According to the Mirror, she said: “Stop pushing girls down the route of nursery nurses, hairdressers, manicurists, the arts, yes they are all important, we need them.

“I go to the hairdressers but too many girls in this country are pushed down that route.”

The former supporter of the Conservative Party – who considers herself to be Ukip leader Nigel Farage's deputy – was photographed last year sticking her middle finger up at anti-racism protesters in Kent.

Ms Atkinson, who gets paid around £79,000 per year as an MEP, was found to have owed more than £2,000 in child support to her ex-husband after criticising “feckless families” for receiving benefits.