UKIP spin doctor describes Standard journalist as ‘of some sort of ethnic extraction’

A UKIP spin doctor described an Evening Standard journalist as being “of some form of ethnic extraction” in a text message sent to the wrong person.

Gawain Towler, who is the party’s head of media and planning to run for the European Parliament, was discussing the Evening Standard’s Kiran Randhawa with a colleague when the rogue message ended in the wrong location.

Ms Randhawa has been with the Evening Standard for almost a decade.

Journalist Nick Sutton tweeted a screen grab of the text and it soon was retweeted more than 150 times.

Here's the text message sent by UKIP spin doctor that refers to female journalist (of some ethnic extraction) #cpc13 pic.twitter.com/dUjeB4O5cz

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) September 30, 2013

The text stated: “James, my fault but I told the Standard that Nigel would be arriving at approx 10.30 this morning. They have called and I expect a snapper and a female journalist (of some form of ethnic extraction) at Piccadilly. Am sorry. Possible more than one snapper as they hunt in packs.”

Speaking to The Times following the embarrassing gaffe, Towler said: “If I’d got the right name I would have used it but I didn’t so I needed to give a head up. . . I was thinking of using the term ‘babe’ but they aren’t going to have the first idea what I’m going on about.”

This follows the resignation from the party of former MEP Geoffrey Bloom, who while addressing a meeting to increase the number of women in politics, said: “This place is full of sluts.”