Photo: Wenn
UKIP chairman Steve Crowther has accused the Red Cross of trying to "put politics over saving peoples lives" by rejecting a donation from their UKIP Calypso charity single.
The charity recently announced that they would be unable to accept any donations from Mike Read's controversial track.
In a statement the charity announced: "As a neutral organisation, we cannot benefit from something which overtly supports one political party. In addition, the Red Cross has a proud history of helping refugees and asylum seekers who are negatively referred to in the lyrics."
Crowther has taken this as a personal affront and has attacked the organisation in a way that only a UKIP voter can. "We regret that the British Red Cross think it's their place to put politics over saving people's lives." he told the Daily Mail. "We will seek to donate all the money to another charity working to help tackle the tragic Ebola crisis in West Africa."
Listen to 'UKIP Calypso' below
UKIP's Commonwealth spokesman Winston McKenzie also defended the song in a bizarre appearance on Newsnight. "Ever since the beginning of time – the Beatles, Elvis, the Rolling Stones – they have taken off the black man. What [Read] has done is fantastic and the PC brigade have to grow up and get with it. The guy has made a song."
While McKenzie is right in the strictest sense, Read's efforts have been dogged by controversy since he decided to perform in a toe-curling 'Jafaican' accent. “It was never meant to be remotely racist,” he said. “It’s an old-fashioned political satire … you can’t sing a calypso with a Surrey accent.”
As previously reported, Read announced he had asked his record company to withdraw the album from sale. Read said: “I’m so sorry that the song unintentionally caused offence. That was never my intention and I apologise unreservedly if anyone has taken offence. I’ve asked the record company to withdraw the single immediately.”
Below: Why Pop and Politics should never mix
