The Ukip candidate who topped the party's Scottish list wants to become an MEP because it will help him get to Westminster and generate "more TV and radio appearances".

David Coburn also said First Minister Alex Salmond preferred Scots to "weave shawls" and "never venture south of the Solway Firth."

Born in Glasgow, Coburn attended Leeds University and became an antiques dealer.

He joined Ukip in 2009 and is currently the party's London chairman. Coburn also successfully stood to be a member of the party's national executive committee, for which leader Nigel Farage was one of his assenters.

In his pitch to Scottish members during the his party's European candidate selection, he explained his political philosophy: "I believe Ukip's fundamental support comes from the aspirational lower middle and working classes who appreciate meritocratic education and minimal interference in small business.

"I have two successful international businesses employing people from the Far East to the UK, which Alex Salmond probably won't like as he prefers Scots to weave shawls and never venture south of the Solway Firth."

He added: "I will chase those votes up every close in Scotland. I want Ukip to rekindle the 18th-century Scottish Enlightenment of Adam Smith and David Hume."

He said his election to Brussels would be a stepping stone to ­Westminster and give him "more TV and radio appearances".

Coburn has also described ­Scottish independence as an ­"absolute tragedy".

When he stood for the national executive committee, he said: "Ukip must stop personal ego-tripping and pointless damaging, internal bickering in the public arena."

He has also insisted Ukip is not a "Tory tribute band".

A recent trip to Scotland proved difficult for Coburn.

As one of the Ukip figures who accompanied Farage on his infamous trip to Edinburgh, during which the leader was forced to flee from protestors, Coburn reportedly had a drink poured over him.

SNP MEP Alyn Smith said of the "shawls" remark: "These remarks are an insult to everyone working hard in Scotland to grow our broad-based and globally focused economy - it is the sort of prejudice that is the hallmark of Ukip."