Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

MEP abruptly ends interview after denying phrase "Bongo Bongo Land" is racist

“Off you go, I can’t be bothered with you”, UKIP politician Godfrey Bloom tells Channel 4′s Krishnan Guru Murthy.

UKIP MEP GODFREY Bloom didn’t show any signs of regret over comments he had made about ‘Bongo Bongo Land’ in a Channel 4 News interview this evening, despite an earlier statement apologising for his use of the outdated phrase in a speech last month.

Quite the contrary in fact: the irascible politician asked broadcaster Krishnan Guru Murthy “what’s your problem?” and “what’s so controversial about it?” before ripping his earphones off and ending a satellite interview.

Murthy did well to keep his composure as the Yorkshire MEP asked him to “move on, there’s a good fellow” before the exchange came to an abrupt halt, with the newsreader asking “are you giving up?”

When initially questioned over his use of the phrase – made at a speech in the West Midlands last month – Bloom had told the BBC that it would be “absurd” to label it racist.

He later changed his mind and apologised when UKIP Chairman Steve Crowther said it was “lazy language, old-fashioned” and “not language we want to hear used by our senior party members”.

The following statement was published on Bloom’s website in the wake of Crowther’s comments to Sky News:

At a public speech in the West Midlands in early July I used a term which I subsequently gather under certain circumstances could be interpreted as pejorative to individuals and possibly cause offence. Although quite clearly no such personal usage was intended, I understand from UKIP Party Chairman Steve Crowther and leader Nigel Farage that I must not use the terminology in the future, nor will I and sincerely regret any genuine offence which might have been caused or embarrassment to my colleagues.

The MEP’s Channel 4 interview caused a Twitter storm when it was broadcast this evening, with the general reaction being one of amusement. Columnist Caitlin Moran was amongst those weighing in:

Read: The Dredge – Which UK journalist is slagging off the Late Late Show?

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
87 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean O'Sullivan
    Favourite Sean O'Sullivan
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 6:02 PM

    When mine catches fire I just put it on a quick wash cycle….quenches it every time!

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank Hindsight
    Favourite Frank Hindsight
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 7:46 PM

    Mine too caught fire the other day…..I tried to warn her about lighting her farts on Fajita y Tequila night in the gaf!!

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Irishboy1691
    Favourite Irishboy1691
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 5:29 PM

    So a free “in home repair” is the new recall and replacement?

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paula Kennedy
    Favourite Paula Kennedy
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 9:29 PM

    Never put on the dishwasher when you are going to bed

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian magee
    Favourite brian magee
    Report
    Apr 11th 2013, 8:09 AM

    Why’s that, people with night rates do it because its cheaper.
    The next generation of didhwashers are grid controlled and will turn them selves on in the middle of the night to avail of excess wind. And reduce the burden on the grid.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian magee
    Favourite brian magee
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 5:38 PM

    How many fires before it becomes a pattern?

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mohamad oconnor
    Favourite mohamad oconnor
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 5:29 PM

    Dishwasher! Not my department!!

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kay Tighe
    Favourite Kay Tighe
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 5:38 PM

    A dishwasher lasting that long ?

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michele Tobin
    Favourite Michele Tobin
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 6:17 PM

    Mines 13 years old. Survived many a child sittingvon open door!

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sinead Fox
    Favourite Sinead Fox
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 10:59 PM

    Mine is ’04 so 9 years old and still working well, last washing machine lasted nearly 16years…

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Billy Higgins
    Favourite Billy Higgins
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 9:12 PM

    Any chance of posting model numbers affected?

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fussy Galore
    Favourite Fussy Galore
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 11:12 PM

    Bosch are only doing something about this because of the threat of bad publicity and the pressure put on them by the Consumer Show programme on RTE TV. Bosch wouldn’t care less only for the coverage on the show and that it goes to show the importance of having a strong regulator / enforcer in such situations in order to protect consumers.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Git Gray
    Favourite Git Gray
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 11:43 PM

    It will all come out in the wash

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Red Devil
    Favourite The Red Devil
    Report
    Apr 11th 2013, 1:30 AM

    I never put on the dishwasher when I’m going to bed- it’s to heavy

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bernadette Dunne
    Favourite Bernadette Dunne
    Report
    Apr 11th 2013, 3:57 AM

    Lol lol comment of the week

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James
    Favourite James
    Report
    Apr 10th 2013, 7:13 PM

    Always the pump

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bernadette Dunne
    Favourite Bernadette Dunne
    Report
    Apr 11th 2013, 3:43 AM

    I put on my washing machine and my dish washer every night and thankfully my clothes are clean and my dishes too…It’s a myth about running them at night being dangerous but I bet most of yea would run them while yea are out at work/ Shopping/or gone for lunch I save a fortune using then on the night saver too

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan McNamara
    Favourite Alan McNamara
    Report
    Apr 11th 2013, 5:36 AM

    Yeah but your not in the house, it’s much much worse if it went on fire and you were asleep.

    9
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds