NIGEL Farage has been roundly condemned for seeking to "score political points" and divide people on the back of the terrorist shooting in Paris.
The UKIP leader insisted the attack by suspected Islamist militants on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, in which 12 people died, was "truly horrific" but he then argued it raised questions about what he called a "really gross policy" of multiculturalism.
Claiming that there was a very strong argument that the events were the result of "a fifth column", which he said lived in Paris and London, Mr Farage went on: "We've got people living in these countries, holding our passports, who hate us.
"Luckily, their numbers are very, very small but it does make one question the whole, really gross, attempt at encouraged division within society that we have had in the past few decades in the name of multiculturalism," he added.
But the Ukip's leaders words provoked a hostile response.
Nick Clegg said: "I am dismayed Nigel Farage immediately thinks, on the back of the bloody murders that we saw on the streets of Paris yesterday, his first reflex, is to make political points."
The Deputy Prime Minister said that if the attackers did turn out to be Islamist extremists, then "law-abiding British Muslims" were the "greatest antidote to the perversion of Islam".
Prime Minister David Cameron, asked about Mr Farage's comments during a visit to Manchester, said: "Today is not the day to make political remarks or arguments. Today is the day to stand four-square behind the French people."
Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, also criticised the Ukip leader, saying: "I don't think people should be using the tragic events in Paris to score political points.
"The most important thing for now, for our country is that we are united and stand in solidarity with the people of France and indeed the people of Paris at what happened. People are united across faiths, across parties, across communities and across countries in their condemnation, their utter condemnation, of this dreadful terrorist attack."
He added: "I don't think Nigel Farage or anyone else should be seeking to divide us in this way."
There was stronger condemnation from other politicians.
Dame Tessa Jowell, the former Labour Culture Secretary, branded Mr Farage's comments "sickening", saying: "The murder of innocent people is criminal, plain and simple."
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, said his reference to a "fifth column" - a faction inside a country working with its enemies to create instability - was "irresponsible".
She said everybody across society should be working to "ensure we deal with and eradicate extremism, wherever it exists".
Her Cabinet colleague, Eric Pickles, the Communities and Local Government Secretary, added: "If we fight among ourselves or see our neighbours of any faith as the enemy, then the only winners are the gunmen."
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