Elham Asaad Buaras

Anti-bigotry campaigners have warned Henry Bolton’s election as UKIP’s new leader on September 29 is unlikely to change “the party’s focus on demonizing Muslims and scapegoating migrants.”

Bolton beat far-right candidate Anne Marie Waters into second place, but stated during his election campaign that he agrees with her on opposing Islam.

In a Q&A session posted on his campaign Youtube channel, he states, “I have fought Islam. I have been blown off my feet by an Islamic Suicide bomber.”

In the same speech he later said: “In some of our communities we have lost our British identity…We’ve got Islamic schools. I am with Anne Marie on this issue.”

Bolton defended his campaign claims of being proud of “fighting Islam”.

“There is a concern amongst the population writ large that there is an undermining through general immigration and the weight of numbers that we’ve got and Islam as well – that our culture is being buried by this, sort of pushed aside,” said Bolton.

He added: “We will ensure that our schools teach history, and that if people don’t have pride in what their forefathers achieved, they themselves will achieve nothing worthy on the part of their successors.”

In a statement to The Muslim News Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism Co-Convenor, said, “Despite UKIP’s abysmal performance at the last election, we must remain vigilant. That the far-right Anne Marie Waters came as close as second and the new leader expressed agreement with her on the issue of Islam means this party’s toxic agenda must continue to be opposed.”

Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism Co-Convenor, added, “UKIP is a racist populist party and this will not change. Henry Bolton claims to have ‘fought Islam’ – It’s our job to show that we are proud of our multicultural society and UKIP will not succeed in reviving themselves by continuing to scapegoat Muslims and migrants.”