UK Councillor blames floods on gay marriage laws

UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has launched a clearout of “extremist, nasty or barmy” views from the party after one Councillor blamed recent flooding on the passing of gay marriage laws.

David Silvester, a Henley-on-Thames Councillor who defected to Ukip from the Conservatives, said he had warned Prime Minister David Cameron of “disaster” if gay marriages were allowed.

And speaking on BBC local radio after his remarks were reported, Mr Silvester said he had been advised not to speak to the media any more.

He said: “I believe the Prime Minister, who was warned that disasters would follow if he went in this direction (of gay marriage), he has persisted and I believe this is largely a repercussion from this godlessness.

“The instructions I have got is from now on is just not to answer anybody and not to give interviews.”

UPDATE: A spokesman has said that Mr Silvester has been suspended from the party.

Five of Ukip’s MEPs will not stand for re-election in May, Mr Farage said in an interview with the Sun on Sunday.

Mr Farage said new criteria to assess the performance of his party’s 13 members of the European Parliament had led to changes.

“Some have been pushed and some have jumped,” he said.

All 1,818 candidates running for the eurosceptic party are being vetted, Mr Farage said, while insisting that “of all the candidates we fielded, only about half a dozen have caused us any embarrassment”.

The Ukip leader did not name the five MEPs who will not contest the poll.