AN ELECTION candidate has rubbished ideas UKIP are anti-immigrant and instead questioned whether other parties' policies are racist.

David Glossop believes UKIP have been misinterpreted in trying to stamp down on immigration - and has pleaded with the public to come to him for the truth on UKIP's policies.

UKIP have been criticised for controversial comments made by some members and policies on tighter immigration controls. But Mr Glossop believes his party's problems have been blown out of proportion.

"To be honest, we have had some idiots speaking as if they are representing UKIP" he said. "Every British political party in the past has had an equal number of idiots. I don't think we've had a greater share of these idiots than anybody else.

"It is just the media as a whole has been embarrassed by the success of UKIP and they are trying to knock us off the table."

Responding to claims that his party's immigration policies are racist, the West Dorset candidate puts it down to 'poor interpretations of what we have been doing'.

"If UKIP hadn't come along, the subject would have been brushed under the carpet" he said. "Hopefully people can talk about it without screaming racist at us. We're not racist, but we certainly want to control immigration.

"Labour and the Liberal Democrats want to have free immigration from Europe - but it make immigration difficult from the commonwealth - so who is the racist?"

Mr Glossop believes voters in West Dorset will look closely at candidates' view on the NHS next month. He thinks removing a whole layer of administration will make the health service more efficient.

"Inherently, I do not like the idea of privatisation and neither does UKIP" he said. "We want it to continue to be free for those that have contributed.

"In some ways it has become an international health service. No newcomers to Britain should get anything free until they have contributed to taxes and national insurance for five years."

Mr Glossop has concerns over cuts to defence and policing - while he would like to see a return to two-tier education and grammar schools.

He also thinks businesses will thrive if UKIP get their way and the UK leaves the European Union - but that it would be down to the government to make it easier for firms to trade.

Mr Glossop is urging people who have heard negative things about UKIP to address him about the concerns.

"I would plea that people actually ask a Ukipper what the proper policies are before believing what they read from other parties" he said.

"Come and speak to us to hear the truth. They still may not like the truth, butI would rather people hear it directly from us."