UKIP leader Nigel Farage has defended controversial Basildon councillor Kerry Smith’s use of homophobic and racist language.

Speaking on LBC Radio Mr Farage described Mr Smith as a “rough diamond who left school early from a council estate” where certain language was commonplace.

Ukip ditched Mr Smith as its parliamentary candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock last week, after a recording of a phone call Mr Smith made was made public.

In it he described gay people as “poofters” and referred to a Chinese woman as “a chinky”.

However, Mr Farage told listeners: “Kerry Smith is a council house boy from the East End, who talks and speaks in a way a lot of people from that background do.

“If you and your mates are going out for a Chinese what do you say you are going for?”

However, asked if he had ever used the term “chinky”, Mr Farage said he didn’t think he had.

Mr Farage went on: “I feel sorry for Kerry Smith. He is a genuine guy.

“Even after the ‘poofter’ comment, the next sentence, he was saying about another candidate and how good he was and the fact that he was gay would be an asset to the party. I think he has had a tough time, but I don’t think he is suitable to be a parliamentary candidate.”

Mr Smith, who was the leader of the Ukip group on the council has quit the party over the affair, but will continue as a councillor.

His mother, fellow Ukip councillor Imelda Clancy, has also also quit the party and the pair now call themselves the “Independence Group”.

He will still receive an extra allowance as the leader of a political group, but this will be reduced since the new group has just two members.

Mr Smith will remain a member of two council committee on which he previously served as a Ukip member, the audit and risk committee which he chairs, and the the employment and general purposes committee.

Mr Smith said: “In the Independence Group we will carry on doing what we do – supporting any sensible motions and opposing those that are not.”