Ukip’s charismatic former Commonwealth Spokesman Winston McKenzie has quit the party, claiming he is a victim of racial discrimination.
The 60-year-old former boxer today announced he had left the party because of the behaviour of those in the “higher echelons” of Ukip.
The Jamaican-born Mr McKenzie had hoped to be Ukip’s Mayor of London candidate, but was overlooked in favour of Peter Whittle.
The ex-Lib Dem, Conservative and Veritas member did not even make it onto the 11-strong list for next year’s London Assembly elections, which was unveiled at Ukip’s conference in September.
Speaking to ITV News, Mr McKenzie said: "I'm incensed at the present moment because where I stand in UKIP, I feel as though I've been completely ignored, racially discriminated against by people in the higher echelons of the party.
"I'm talking about the leader's followers."
Mr McKenzie was the party’s Commonwealth Spokesman until earlier this year, when he was replaced by Ukip MEP Jim Carver.
He compared the sacking to being taken out on a boat and shot like Fredo Corleone in The Godfather II film.
He gained a degree of notoriety in 2014 when a Carnival of Colour he organised in Croydon ahead of the European Elections was swamped with protesters.
Party leader Nigel Farage cancelled his appearance at the festival, and the steel band booked for the event refused to play when they learned it was organised by Ukip.
Mr McKenzie then labelled the borough, where he was standing as Ukip’s parliamentary candidate, as “an absolute dump.”
After a successful career as an amateur boxer, Mr McKenzie has repeatedly tried to build a successful political career.
Including this May’s General Election, where he came third in Croydon North, Mr McKenzie has stood in 11 parliamentary, mayoral, council and party leadership elections – losing them all.
During a Newsnight debate on whether the Mike Read-penned 'Ukip Calypso' was racist, Mr McKenzie told BBC Asian Network DJ Nihal "I'm an ex-boxer you know, don't get shirty with me" as the pair clashed.
Ukip has yet to respond to a request for a comment.