Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ukip MEP Roger Helmer: People should be able to dislike homosexuality like they do different types of tea

But senior Ukip politician insists prejudice against homosexuality is 'wrong'

Tom Payne
Friday 02 May 2014 18:34 BST
Roger Helmer
Roger Helmer (Rex Features)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A senior Ukip politician has said that people should be able to prefer hetrosexuality or homosexuality like they do different types of tea.

In the latest controversy to rock the party, MEP Roger Helmer told The Sun newspaper that some people find homosexuality “distasteful if not viscerally repugnant”.

“Different people may have different tastes,” he said. “You may tell me that you don’t like Earl Grey tea. That may be a minority view but you are entitled not to like it if you don’t like it.”

In a statement on his website, Mr Helmer said he was “deeply shocked” by today’s story, and insisted that it was “morally acceptable to prefer heterosexuality over homosexuality, or vice versa”.

He told The Independent: “I said that people may prefer heterosexuality or homosexuality. I did not say that people could dislike – much less hate – other people on the grounds of their sexual orientation”

“The mainstream media are engaged in a feeding frenzy against Ukip, and are prepared to twist the facts to suit their agenda,” he added.

It’s not the first time that the East Midlands MEP has caused controversy with outlandish remarks. In 2011, Mr Helmer caused a storm by saying that homosexuality was akin to a mental health problem.

At the time he tweeted: “Why is it OK for a surgeon to perform a sex change operation, but not OK for a psychiatrist to try to ‘turn’ a consenting homosexual?”

Despite his remarks, the MEP told The Sun last night that Ukip’s bad publicity was driven by the “old parties”.

Mr Helmer’s comments come days after a Ukip candidate tweeted racist remarks about comedian Lenny Henry. William Henwood said the comic should go to a “black country”.

Nigel Farage yesterday took to Twitter to insist that the party had been “very tough” on discipline.

An earlier version of this article was headlined "Ukip MEP Roger Helmer: People should be able to dislike gay people like they do different types of tea". The item was amended after Mr Helmer contacted The Independent to make clear that he does not think it is acceptable for anybody to dislike a person because they happen to be gay. We are happy to clarify the matter. (Statement added 2/5/14)

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in