Yahoo News Ukip's Suzanne Evans suggests Theresa May 'must bear some responsibility' for Manchester terror attack before backtracking
One of Ukip's most senior figures has suggested Theresa May "must bear some responsibility" for the Manchester terror attack as the party launched its General Election Manifesto.
Suzanne Evans, the party's deputy chairman, made the comments before appearing to backtrack just moments later.
Her comments are likely to overshadow the launch of Ukip's blueprint for government which included plans to introduce a "one in, one out" immigration system, to ban Sharia law and to cut the UK's foreign aid budget.
Ukip is the first of the major parties to resume campaigning after Monday's suicide bombing which left 22 people dead and it has faced accusations of trying to exploit the attack.
Ms Evans detailed what she saw as Mrs May's failings on matters of defence and security during the current Prime Minister's time as Home Secretary before taking questions from journalists.
Ms Evans said in response to a question: “I think she (Mrs May) must bear some responsibility. All politicians who voted against measures or voted for measures to make cuts bear some responsibility.
“I think when 9/11 happened we should have had a serious rethink about immigration. It didn’t happen.
“Of course the European Union is equally culpable as well and I also lay a lot of blame at the feet of the commissioners as well who as Paul (Nuttall) said are far too cowardly to face up to the real issues in our country and what needs to be done to keep people safe.
“That has got to be the primary focus of any government, any politicians and frankly if they are not prepared to stand up and do what needs to be done to keep people safe then they are simply not fit to govern.
“I stand by what I said.”
Her comments prompted an audible intake of breath from some in the audience at the event in London.
Another journalist then pushed Ms Evans to clarify her remarks and she said: “I didn’t say she must bear, no, I didn’t say what she must bear responsibility for.
“The only person who is responsible, or people, who is responsible for what happened in Manchester are the terrorists.
“Let me make that absolutely clear.
“I think sometimes we are perhaps a little bit too quick to blame other people but the terrorists in these situations but the circumstances that allowed their ideology to breed, that allowed their hatred to spread, politicians should have taken action on that long ago.”
