High-profile Croydon Ukip member Winston McKenzie has dramatically quit the party, claiming he is the victim of racial discrimination.

Mr McKenzie, who stood to be MP for Croydon North in May, said he had been blocked from progressing higher in Ukip because of racism in its "higher echelons".

The flamboyant 62-year-old has repeatedly hit the headlines during his political career, and infamously branded Croydon a "dump" just days before running in last year's council election.

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He told ITV News today: "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."

The former boxer finished last in Ukip's 2010 leadership race, won by Nigel Farage.

Before joining Ukip, Mr McKenzie was a member of Labour, the Lib Dems, Veritas, the Conservativs and Unity Party, which he formed himself. 

The Croydon Guardian could not reach him for a comment this afternoon.