A UKIP councillor who posted anti-Jewish online outbursts and shared photos of Muslims being BURNED to death today announced his intention to step down.
Eric Kitson, 59, admitted he “could not carry on” after social network posts containing the offensive material came to light.
He shared a picture of a Muslim being spit-roasted over a pile of burning Korans from his Facebook account, as well as anti-semitic outbursts linking the Rothschild banking dynasty to Hitler.
Yesterday the councillor from Stourport, Worcs., apologised to residents and party colleagues for his ‘stupid’ actions – less than TWO WEEKS after he was elected.
But he denied being racist and claimed he had shared the material to expose the ‘unacceptable’ views they contained.
He said: “I do not think it is fair of me plus it is not fair on the people of Stourport.
“I am fairly sure I will stand down – I just want to be in a more stable condition first.
“I wanted to show people this is bad, this is wrong.
“What I should have done is write something on them about how bad it is but I didn’t.
“To say I have been stupid is mild.
“I do not agree with the comments and I have not got a racist bone in my body. I went to school with a lot of young Pakistanis and Indians and I have had wonderful Muslim friends over the years.”
Kitson, who joined UKIP a year ago, also apologised to his colleagues.
He said: “What can I say to them?”
“The hardest thing to do is say sorry.
“I cannot blame anybody but myself. It is the worst thing that has ever happened to me before and it is my fault.
“The people who know me – my family, friends, people I work with – have all supported me.
“It has made me ill – I cannot eat and I cannot sleep.”
Kitson made a string of posts relating to Muslims and other ethnic groups.
In one he made reference to a Muslim woman and said: ““Hang um all first then ask questions later. (sic)”
In another he called for a referendum to set up an English parliament, Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union and the repatriation of “six million migrants and refugees”.
Kitson was elected to Worcestershire County Council less than two weeks ago.
He received 1,385 votes to take the Wyre Forest seat on May 2 – beating rivals from the three mainstream political groups.
UKIP said it is currently investigating the posts and West Mercia Police confirmed they have requested more information in relation to the incident.
