An Indian-origin former MP candidate who stood for the far-right UK Independence Party in May general elections has started his own single-issue political party, calling for the UK to throw open its borders to all.
Harjinder Singh, who attracted public and media interest during the last general election campaign after spending 13 hours a day waving at carson a busy traffic junction, has now set up Open Borders Party.
At the time, he was standing as Euro-sceptic UK Independence Party's (UKIP) parliamentary candidate for the safe Labour Party seat of Birmingham Perry Barr.
The 'Asian Image' reported that the 38-year-old bank worker andformer Conservative party activist said he had joined UKIP because it was the only group offering withdrawal from the European Union and admitted he had been "a little bit naive" about its anti-immigrant policies.
He has now set up Open Borders Party, campaigning to open the UK's doors to anyone without a criminal record or a contagious disease - so long as they pay an entry fee, and higher taxes.
Singh, who joined UKIP in 2014, told the newspaper: "There's no perfect political party. I was a little bit naive with regard to some of their (UKIP's) other policies, as they've bolted some on, and those don't represent me.
"That for me is where I draw the line, but with regard to the main core party view, which is to leave the EU, UKIP were the only party saying that which is why I joined."
He claims UKIP officials tried to talk him out of his maverick move to campaign standing in the middle of one of Europe's busiest traffic thoroughfares - the Scott Arms junction in north Birmingham.
"A lot of people were saying 'don't stand at the Scott Arms, start knocking doors and meet people'," he said.
"I felt, here I was, a Sikh male, campaigning for UKIP with no budget meeting hundreds and hundreds of people every day."
Singh, who lost to Labour in the May polls, has signalled his intention to stand for his party in the Perry Barr seat in the next election as well.
