A PROSPECTIVE parliamentary candidate and Redbridge council hopeful has quit after making racist comments about The Queen, just days after sparking controversy for previous remarks about Muslims and Romanian gypsies.

Paul Wiffen, who was standing for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in Ilford South as well as Chadwell ward, has stepped down after it emerged he made derogatory remarks about Her Majesty on Facebook.

In a conversation on the social network website, Mr Wiffen responded to a comment made by an American about the Queen, saying: “If you want one so bad, you can have the German bitch who has just handed our sovereignty to Europe without a murmur!”, according to the Evening Standard.

Earlier this month Mr Wiffen was suspended from his role as chairman of UKIP London after posting a rant on a social care website message board, which referred to “Muslim nutters” and “Romanian gypsies who beat their wives and children”.

A UKIP spokesman said: “The comments were completely unacceptable and do not reflect the attitude, values or policies of the party.

“UKIP would like to apologise for any one offended by the content. Mr Wiffen has now resigned as a candidate.”

Mr Wiffen told the Standard: “I am standing aside in Ilford South so that UKIP's three main messages of controlling our borders, repatriating lawmaking and saving the £45m a day we pay to the EU are not overshadowed by anything I may have said on late night internet sessions.

“I apologise for any offence I may have caused.”

According to his profile on UKIP's website, Mr Wiffen “gained a Master's Degree in Modern Languages at Oxford, toured the world as a keyboardist with Stevie Wonder & Jean-Michel Jarre, and has shot films in Switzerland, Mexico & Belize (which won three awards).”

It also features pictures of him with actresses Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Ellison, who it is claimed he worked with on a number of the party's campaigns.