Godfrey Bloom: 'Political lies overwhelm you'

Former Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom has said no "sane" person from a professional background would enter politics these days because they would be vilified for holding convictions.

Mr Bloom is now an Independent MEP for Yorkshire and Humber after he was criticised for calling women at a meeting "sluts" and hitting the Channel Four News journalist Michael Crick over the head with a conference programme.

Writing in the Yorkshire Post, he said: "The vilification and lies overwhelm anyone with conviction."

He said: "Is Bongo Bongo Land offensive? Only if I say it. Nick Robinson, the BBC's political editor, used it in his book Live From Downing Street last year and no one said a word.

"But of course he isn't me."