Radio presenter Mike Read defends UKIP song

MIKE READ has defended his decision to release a calypso song in support of UKIP.

The radio presenter, who lives in Henley, faces accusations of racism for singing the track in a mock-Caribbean accent.

Read wrote the song, called UKIP Calypso, for an appearance at one of the party’s gala dinners.

Afterwards, he was persuaded to record it as a fund-raising single under the name The Independents.

The song features couplets including: "Leaders committed a cardinal sin, open the borders let them all come in" and "Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage."

Conservative and Labour MPs have criticised the lyrics and the use of the accent.

But Read, who presents the weekday afternoon show on BBC Radio Berkshire, said: "I did it for a bit of fun and had no intention of offending anyone.

"I spend a lot of time in the Caribbean and work with the tourist board there — I haven’t got a racist bone in my body."