UKIP candidate William Henwood has resigned from the party after tweeting that comedian Lenny Henry should “emigrate to a black country.”

Mr Henwood was due to stand in Enfield Town ward during the elections on May 22.

The former UKIP candidate responded to renowned black comedian Lenny Henry’s speech calling for more diversity in high end jobs by tweeting that: “He should emigrate to a black country. He does not have to live with whites.”

Previously to this Mr Henwood has also compared Islam to the “third Reich.”

However, he defended his comments in an interview with the BBC by saying: “I think if black people come to this country and don't like mixing with white people why are they here? If he (Henry) wants a lot of blacks around go and live in a black country.”

A UKIP spokesman said that Mr Henwood’s comments had caused “enormous offence” and that the decision to leave the party was “mutually agreed.”

UKIP now have 15 councillor candidates standing in the Enfield election next month.