> UKIP: Meet The Sexists!

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Paul Nuttal MEP, Nigel Farage MEP, and Shneur Odze, Candidate MEP

It all started in 2004 with Godfrey Bloom's remarks about women not cleaning behind the fridge enough. That was followed by (unsubstantiated) allegations of molestation by a young female student.

Since then UKIP has been plagued by allegations of rape at a party conference, a (false) allegation of rape made by UKIP press officer Annabelle Fuller against a Tory MP, and Farage's recent idiotic comments claiming that women who take time off work to have children are "worth less" to City employers.

UKIP just cannot seem to get the relationship between men and women right. Is it because most of them are struggling to come to terms with the fact that we are living in the 21st century? Or is it something more unpalatable?

For now we see that a nasty row has broken out within UKIP over a Member of European Parliament candidate's refusal to shake women's hands due to his religious beliefs.

Shneur Odze, a prospective MEP for the North West of England, has told party members his Orthodox Judaism forbids him from physical contact with women other than his wife. Some party activists say they are offended by his stance, which threatens to alienate half the electorate. But senior officials have rebuked these activists as "rude" and "wrong" for refusing to respect Odze's beliefs.

Fred McGlade, a UKIP regional organiser, has already resigned from his post in protest at the decision to include Odze, 31, on the party's list of top MEP candidates.

He warned UKIP chairman Steve Crowther that he would stand down if Odze was chosen by the party, because of his attitude towards women.

At least one UKIP branch has banned Odze because of what a member described as his "difficult and aggressive behaviour".

Crowther told the Times it was "rude" of McGlade and others to complain about Odze.

He said: "We have a policy of tolerance for and acceptance of people's own religious observance. We do not consider it grounds for complaint. It harms no one."

Ozde, who is fourth on the UKIP's MEP list in the North West, was unavailable to comment.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/jewish-ukip-mep-candidate-refuses-shake-hands-women-1436756