Nigel Farage has defended a Ukip official who said it was the party of 'bigots' as he was left reeling from the defection of a top MEP to the Conservatives. The Ukip leader hit out at the party's former communities spokesman Amjad Bashir after his defection to join David Cameron's party. But he refused to condemn Ukip party secretary Matthew Richardson saying that Ukip should represent 'bigots' and labelling the NHS a 'waste of money'. Scroll down for video Ukip have been rocked by the defection of Amjad Bashir, who was pictured with David Cameron after joining the Tories Nigel Farage feels the heat after a day of terrible headlines, including claims Ukip is the party of bigots
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Farage feels the heat after terrible day of headlines for his party
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MEP Amjad Bashir said 'Ukip is pointless' before defecting to Tory party
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He said Ukip was 'pretty amateur' and had a 'ridiculous' lack of policies
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Ukip claims Bashir was suspended over 'extremely serious' allegations
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Party secretary Matthew Richardson said Ukip should represent 'bigots'
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Said the NHS as a 'waste of money' and the 'Reichstag bunker of socialism'
In a stinging parting short, Mr @placeholder said he decided to leave Ukip because it 'has become a vanity project for Nigel Farage and because many of the criticisms made of the party are true'.
Mr @placeholder, who has advocated an insurance-funded model for the NHS in the past, insisted Ukip was committed to a health service that was free at the point of delivery.