Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read says ‘Ukip Calypso’ track is not ‘racist’ but ‘a bit of fun’

The controversial track criticises 'open borders' and 'illegal immigrants in every town'

Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read has defended his controversial ‘Ukip Calypso’ track, calling it “simply a bit of fun”.

The BBC presenter released the track online on Monday (October 20), singing in a mock Caribbean accent and criticising “open borders” and “illegal immigrants in every town”, as well as Prime Minister David Cameron.

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The song, which has been endorsed by Nigel Farage and given 50/1 odds of reaching Number One this weekend, has been labelled as racist by critics. Read, however, is defiant in his own defence.

“I work in a delightfully multicultural business and adore doing accents,” Read said in a statement. “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.”

The track is currently available for 79p via Amazon, with 20p going to Ukip. The party boasts an alleged membership count of 40,000 – greater than 22,000 downloads needed for a song to reach the Top 30.

Read currently hosts an afternoon show on BBC Berkshire, after spending over a decade at Radio 1.

Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon recently labelled Ukip “a black hole for the ignorant to fall into”.

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