Music fans left cold by Mike Read’s pro-Ukip song

Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read. Picture: PA

The song, which praises the anti-EU party and leader Nigel Farage, is 50-1 to go straight into the charts at No 1, according to bookmakers Paddy Power.

Yesterday Read said: “Look, I work in a delightfully multicultural business and adore doing accents. The calypso is simply a bit of fun and not meant to be remotely offensive.

“Apologies of course if anyone has taken offence, but I have worked and sung in Jamaica for the tourist board and often have fun with the guys out there doing the accent.

“Bit of fun. . .no offence.”

The song, which includes the lyrics “when we take charge and the new prime minister is Farage”, also takes aim at the European Union.

In one verse, Read sings: “With the EU we must be on our mettle, want to change our lawnmowers and our kettles”.

The former Conservative supporter also warns listeners against trusting the Prime Minister, singing: “The British people have been let down, that’s why Ukip is making ground. From Crewe to Cleethorpes, from Hull to Hendon, they don’t believe Cameron’s referendum.”

Read, who currently hosts an afternoon show on BBC Berkshire, spent more than a decade at Radio 1.

He hit the headlines in 1984 when he refused to play the Frankie Goes to Hollywood single, Relax, because he objected to its lyrics.

A BBC spokeswoman said Read had not breached corporation guidelines on impartiality.

Read is not the first DJ to cause a stir with his political opinions. In the run-up to the 1983 general election, Kenny Everett appeared on stage at a Young Conservative rally wearing a pair of giant foam hands and shouted “let’s bomb Russia”.

In a dig at the then Labour leader, he also said: “Let’s kick Michael Foot’s stick away.”

Mr Farage provided a link to the track, which is credited to The Independents, on Amazon and urged his followers to “help get Ukip Calypso to Number 1”.

Not all reviewers were complimentary – one Amazon customer wrote: “My god, the musical equivalent of the Ebola virus. Anyway, isn’t calypso music a bit foreign for Ukip?”

But the track did have some fans, with one saying: “Brilliant and so true! Love Ukip.”

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