THE only Scottish candidate chosen by the UK Independence party for the forthcoming general election has been suspended, after releasing a personal manifesto which will cause it major embarrassment.
Standing in East Kilbride, John Houston thought he would be one of around 12 candidates which the party hopes to stand.
But he has fallen foul of party headquarters for his unorthodox and libertarian beliefs, including the view that the British Empire should be recreated, that people considered a danger to society should be eliminated and their organs made available for transplant, and that all drugs and prostitution should be legalised.
The party was alarmed at reports that he had informed Scottish newspapers this week of his platform. A spokesman said the views attributed to him "don't line up with what's in our manifesto, and he's suspended as a candidate and member until we find out what's going on. When we adopted him, he seemed sensible".
Mr Houston told The Herald that UKIP needed to get beyond its focus on withdrawal from the European Union. He said: "We're looking for the resurrection of the British Empire.
The problems for the human race - environmental and others - can only be dealt with on a global scale, and that calls for a radical alliance of the Englishspeaking nations, which they are uniquely able to do."
Mr Houston also proposed an optimistic approach to resolving sectarian trouble in Northern Ireland. "Sinn Fein and the IRA should start compensating the British taxpayer for wilful destruction for no good reason."
The 54-year old hotel worker and publisher of books on "esoteric philosophy" used to be a Scottish Green party activist and stood as an independent candidate for the Scottish Parliament in 2003, winning 419 votes.
Mr Houston said he had told the party of his views in his submission for the Westminster manifesto, and he has a written reply saying headquarters was "most impressed" by his ideas.
He commented: "I feel UKIP have over-reacted and overshot the runway. The people who freaked are elderly men. I'm a bit disappointed, but it's a storm in a teacup."
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