Enlarge imageBy Paul Majendie
LONDON (Reuters) - Celebrity Eurosceptic Robert Kilroy-Silk has launched his own political party after quitting the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) that he helped hoist to European prominence.
The former chat show host and Labour MP said his party -- "Veritas" or Truth in Latin -- would expose what he called the lies of Prime Minister Tony Blair and other rivals on issues that will be key in a general election expected in May.
"They lie to us about Europe, they lie to us about weapons of mass destruction, they lie on immigration, they lie on asylum they lie on crime," said the smooth-talking Kilroy-Silk on Wednesday.
"The British people are sick and tired of being lied to."
Kilroy-Silk boosted UKIP’s profile last year when the country’s most volubly anti-European party won 12 seats in the European parliament.
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UKIP stole many votes in the Euro-poll from the Eurosceptic Conservatives.
The party’s disarray and the public mud-slinging between Kilroy-Silk and UKIP have been a welcome boost to Conservative leader Michael Howard, still trailing Blair in opinion polls.
Kilroy-Silk, also known for his permanent sun tan, stepped down as host of a BBC chat show after sparking outrage for calling Arabs "limb amputators and suicide bombers".
A spokesman for UKIP, which he left last month amid much acrimony after a failed leadership bid, said: "You mean Vanitas. It is a one-trick pony."
"The more Robert throws his toys out of the pram, the more the public can see the man behind the tan. It is childish histrionics and a Me,Me,Me approach to everything, including his own country," spokesman Mark Croucher told Reuters.
UKIP, which advocates withdrawal from the European Union, denied the departure of its most high-profile face would damage its election chances.
Kilroy-Silk’s departure has already sparked the defection of former UKIP member Damian Hockney, now Veritas’ deputy leader.
Political analysts believe UKIP’s impressive performance in the European elections was a one-off blip.
But it could strike a chord with voters by pledging to end "mass immigration."
Kilroy-Silk echoed UKIP’s message on Europe and immigration and vowed to restore people’s pride in their nationality.
"They are angry they are constantly being made to pay obedience to the norms of something called multiculturalism," he told a news conference. "They are made to feel ashamed of being British, of our culture, our history and our values ... We are going to put a stop to that nonsense."
A recent poll estimated that one in five voters could opt at the next election for UKIP or the British National Party, another right-wing fringe party.
