A HAMPSHIRE UKIP general election candidate has been suspended for “abhorrent” abuse about a rival.

The row surrounds ex-Tory Robert Blay’s racial slurs and a threat to shoot Conservative opponent Ranil Jayawardena at a public meeting on Saturday in Ramsgate addressed by party leader Nigel Farage.

A newspaper published a video of him in a foul-mouthed rant after Mr Jawawardena has been tipped as Britain’s first Asian prime minister.

Mr Blay – who is standing in North East Hampshire – said: “If he is I will personally put a bullet between his eyes. If this lad turns up to be our prime minister I will personally put a bullet in him. That's how strong I feel about it.”

He added: “I absolutely loathe him.”

Daily Echo: Former UKIP candidate Rob Blay with UKIP leader Nigel Farage

A Ukip spokesman said Mr Blay had been suspended as soon as the remarks came to light - and offered an apology to Mr Jayawardena.

But it pointed to the candidate's “long career” as a Conservative as evidence such views were not confined to its ranks.

“The views expressed by Mr Blay are abhorrent,” the spokesman said.

“As soon as they were brought to our attention he was suspended from the party. Any comments of this sort have absolutely no place in British politics or public life, and the party would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Mr Jayawardena for any distressed caused.

“Mr Blay has been immediately suspended from the party. Ukip acts immediately in circumstances such as these.”