DUDLEY UKIP activists have defended a “flamboyant” Euro MP who sparked a nationwide furore after telling a Black Country meeting that Britain should stop sending aid to ‘Bongo Bongo Land’.

MEP Godfrey Bloom told supporters at a packed meeting at The Kingfisher in Wall Heath that UK aid to foreign countries was being spent on sunglasses, Ferraris and fighter planes in Pakistan.

His remarks, which were filmed and posted to YouTube, sparked a media frenzy this week - and accusations of racism.

But Black Country UKIP campaigners have rallied to defend the Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire MEP’s controversial comments which were made last month at a public meeting organised by UKIP’s Dudley and Halesowen branch.

Chairman Bill Etheridge said: "The words he used weren’t the words I would use but the point he was getting across was a very serious one."

In his speech at the Kidderminster Road venue, Mr Bloom was recorded saying: "How we can possibly be giving a billion pounds a month when we’re in this sort of debt to bongo bongo land is completely beyond me.

"To buy Ray-Ban sunglasses, apartments in Paris, Ferraris and all the rest of it that goes with most of the foreign aid. “F18s for Pakistan. We need a new squadron of F18s. Who's got the squadrons? Pakistan, where we send the money."

Mr Etheridge from Sedgley added: "Godfrey's a flamboyant character; it's one of the things that makes him popular.

"It's a shame he did use that phrase, it's not one I would have used myself."

Stourbridge UKIP campaigner Glen Wilson, who attended the event on July 11, said matter had "been blown out of all proportion" and he added: “No complaints were received about his talk from anybody at the event, and local branches signed up new members as a result of his visit.

“Bongo bongo land was used colloquially by Godfrey when highlighting the country wasting money on foreign aid whilst the working poor of Stourbridge are having to use food banks.”

Chairman of Stourbridge UKIP branch, Major Robins, added: “I was most impressed with his speech, the man is saying what 90 per cent of the country wants to hear from a politician.

“I can’t see why anyone would take offence. It’s totally ridiculous that our country is one of the biggest contributors of foreign aid; fine if we can afford it - we cant, so don’t do it.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Bloom said: “It’s not for the likes of David Cameron to pick our pockets and send money to charities of his choice; if I want to send money to charity I’ll do it of my own accord.

“Money should stay at home, charity should begin at home.”

He said he was “standing up for ordinary people” and he added: “If I’ve offended anybody in bongo bongo land I shall write to the ambassador at the court of St James and apologise to him personally.”

UKIP chairman Steve Crowther said of Mr Bloom’s remarks: "We are asking Godfrey not to use that phrase again because it might be considered disparaging to our members from other countries.

“Other than that we do consider that overseas aid is an important topic that needs to be more widely debated.”