Tory candidate suspended after praising Ian Smith and calling Edward Heath "a rat"

Our candidate in North Ayrshire and Arran, Philip Lardner, has been suspended after describing Ian Smith, former leader of Rhodesia, as a "British hero who came from the Empire and fought for his country". He added: "I am confident Ian Smith was a good man."

He also said that Enoch Powell's predictions about immigration had "in a small way come true".

Mr Lardner, a member of Better Off Out, also described Edward Heath as "a rat", who "lied about the EEC in terms of its effect on sovereignty".  He also warned about immigration from the EU:

"There are 400 million people in the EU who now have the legal right to settle in Britain ... It doesn't make sense to flood a small island with people."

9.30am: Here is the Sunday Herald's report with their interview with Philip Lardner and his response is the second comment below the piece.