Mike Read, the Radio 1 DJ who thought it was a good idea to record a calypso championing Nigel Farage in a mock Jamaican accent has decided that actually, on balance, his actions probably were quite offensive. He has today apologised and called for the song to be withdrawn.
The BBC reports his “unreserved” apology, in which he makes the reservation that any offence caused was “unintentional”. He commented, presumably without the racist Carribean lilt this time:
I am so sorry that the song unintentionally caused offence. It was never meant to, and I apologise unreservedly.
I have told the record company to withdraw the single immediately.
And does Ukip – whose leader called on supporters to get the track to number one – now support the withdrawal of its new-found unofficial anthem? Of course not!
The Mail‘s John Stevens reports a party spokesperson saying: “It’s a pity those so concerned with political correctness have trodden all over this.”
This mole considers the most offensive lyric of all to be the chorus, which conjures up the idea of the Ukip leader as Prime Minister. An assault on the nation’s imagination:
When we take charge/And the new prime minister is Farage/We can trade with the world again/When Nigel is at Number 10.
And here’s the song, in case you’re one of the lucky souls who was able to avoid it this week:
Update: 16.52
It was decided that the proceeds from the withdrawn Ukip calypso song would go to charity. But in a twist that makes this story increasingly awkward for Ukip, the Red Cross has just turned the money down:
As a neutral organisation we cannot benefit from something which overtly supports one political party.
— British Red Cross (@BritishRedCross) October 22, 2014
In addition, the Red Cross has a proud history of helping refugees and asylum seekers who are negatively referred to in the lyrics.
— British Red Cross (@BritishRedCross) October 22, 2014
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