Pay British Indians to leave the UK, says Ukip leadership hopeful John Rees-Evans

A Ukip leadership candidate has claimed British Indians and dual nationals should be offered thousands of pounds to leave the UK.

John Rees-Evans, who came third in the party’s last leadership election, said Britons with dual nationalities could be handed £9,000 and health insurance to relocate to countries where they have the right to settle.

The former soldier added that they could set up a small business under his proposed “fast-track export-import scheme” which could then export tariff-free to the UK.

Mr Rees-Evans, 39, said this would help reduce net migration to below 1 million a year and boost international trade links.

Speaking in Leigh, Greater Manchester, he said: “It's not going to be draconian. It's not going to be fascist.

"I'm not interested in using eugenics or any evil things like that, and yet I would be pushing for negative net migration towards one million a year."

His rivals have condemned the plan though. Peter Whittle, Ukip deputy leader and leadership frontrunner, called his suggestion “utterly and entirely wrong”, while MEP Jane Collins likened it to the BNP’s repatriation scheme.

Following criticism, Mr Rees-Evans elaborated on his plan on his Facebook page. He said: “I am being accused of wanting to send people of a particular country, or countries, abroad. This is absolutely not the case.

“The net effect would be a reduction in Britain’s population of up to several hundred thousands persons annually, as well as forging prolific and valuable import-free trading relationships that will create jobs in the exporting country, while reducing the cost of living to British residents.”

He is one of 11 candidates vying to succeed Paul Nuttall and become the party’s sixth leader in two years. Ukip suffered a disastrous election campaign in which the party failed to win a single seat and won just 1.8 per cent of the vote.

He is best known for once claiming his horse was raped by a “homosexual donkey”.