Ken Clarke calls UKIP “a collection of clowns”

Cabinet minister Ken Clarke yesterday branded UKIP “a collection of clowns” and said some of the party’s supporters are “racist”.

Pro-EU Clarke told Sky News that UKIP was “against” foreigners and had no positive policies.

The comments came as UKIP accused the Tories of launching a smear campaign against them ahead of Thursday’s local elections. The anti-EU UKIP has a record 1,732 candidates standing.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage retorted to Clarke’s comments by saying he was “obviously not interested” in winning back Tory voters who had become disillusioned with the Conservatives, and that Clarke held millions of British people in “utter contempt”.

But our favourite reaction to Clarke’s comments come from the Twittersphere.

Ken Clarke has called UKIP a “collection of clowns”. Pedants have pointed out that the correct collective noun is “alley” or “pratfall”.

— Oli Barrett (@OliBarrett) April 29, 2013

  Image: imaginedhorizons