A politician from Britain's right-wing UK Independence Party is mired in a huge controversy after the Daily Mail reported that he told the party's youth activist conference that they should look to Adolf Hitler for public speaking tips.
Bill Etheridge, who was elected this past spring as a member of the European Parliament on the UKIP ticket, told a workshop for young prospective candidates that they should take an example from "a hateful figure who achieved a great deal."
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
He also clarified: "I'm not saying direct copy — pick up little moments."
Etheridge responded to the Mail in a statement: "I was talking about a whole range of public speakers and the techniques they used. I also mentioned Tony Blair. At no point did I endorse Hitler or anybody else. I was merely discussing public speaking and the techniques used down the years. Hitler and the Nazis were monsters and I am angry that I am even being asked questions about whether we would wish to be linked with them. Yet another cheap shot to deal with from the media."