'Evil cult of Islam' row: Nigel Farage 'never heard of' UKIP candidate

Meanwhile, Steve Latham has vowed not to stand down after party bosses stood by him.

The party has investigated Steve Latham, its candidate for West Bromwich East, after being informed about the posting where he referred to Islam infiltrating Labour.

Last night Farage was interviewed by Sky News about Latham's Facebook remarks, to which the UKIP leader responded: "Who? Never heard of him. I don't know who he is.

"I don't know the names of all 630 candidates. People often say things on Facebook that they regret the next morning."

When asked if he agreed with Latham's remarks, Farage replied: "No, of course not. At our launch yesterday (Wednesday) we had Muslim candidates that are standing in the next General Election."

Former pub landlord Latham, who used to run the Scott Arms and Joker pubs in Great Barr, apologised for the comments but stressed he only meant to refer to extremists as opposed to Muslims in general.

And in a defiant statement last night he said his comments had been 'spun'. UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he had never heard of Mr Latham.

Gawain Towler, UKIP's spokesman, said: "UKIP notes that Steve Latham has apologised for his remark and explained that he was intending to criticise only extremists and not all Muslims. UKIP has many Muslim members, some of them candidates in this election, who fully support our positions on religion, immigration, culture and social cohesion, and clearly Mr Latham's comment did not represent the party's view."

Sandwell Council Labour leader Darren Cooper said: "He called Islam an evil cult. It is unacceptable that UKIP will not act."

And Tom Watson, defending his seat in West Bromwich East for Labour, said: "I'm very surprised that Nigel Farage would tolerate these views." Mr Latham said: "I have apologised and meant no disrespect and intended only to refer to extremism. I accept that the way some have spun the comment does not truly reflect my view.

"I find it quite ironic that Mr Cooper has asked for me to be suspended, and today on his now infamous Twitter account, which had been suspended once, has asked if I will step down. The simple answer to that is no I will not stand down and I am more determined than ever to represent a town in which I was born and bred."

Last October coach driver Mr Latham posted a link to a news story on Facebook that reported claims Labour was being 'infiltrated' by a fundamentalist Muslim group. He wrote: "So the Muslims have infiltrated the Labour party. What a surprise. Who would have guessed such a thing was possible? The Labour Party of Diane Abbott and Harriet Harman infiltrated by the evil cult of Islam. Wow."

I refer to the report in the Express & Star where I commented on an article that referred to claims that a fundamentalist Muslim group had infiltrated Labour and wanted to create an "Islamic Social and Political Order" in Britain. I have apologised and meant no disrespect and intended only to refer to extremism. I accept that the way some have spun the comment, does not truly reflect my view neither does it represent my party's views and head office have made a statement to that affect.

I fully support UKIP and am sad that this has been reported today after such a successful launch of our "Believe in Britain" manifesto yesterday.