ELECTION hopeful Andrew Moffat has defended his former membership of the National Front.

Mr Moffat, 41, who is standing for the UK Independence Party in Beaconsfield, was a member of the extreme right wing group from 1977 to 1979.

He said that politicians with far left connections were easily forgiven compared with those from the 'patriotic right" who tended to be stigmatised.

Mr Moffat explained why he joined the group.

He said: "You get carried away with youthful enthusiasm and that kind of thing."

"The National Front was the only party in those days that took the stance to get the UK out of the European Union."

Mr Moffat said: "The UK Independence Party knows all about it and I have never tried to hide it.

"I'm fighting this election under the UK Independence Party manifesto and that is where my allegiance is.

"Compared with what some of these other politicians were doing and smoking in their youth, and belonging to hard left organisations I'm a pillar of respectability.

"If I look back and think what would have occurred I would not have done it so in that respect you could say it was a mistake."

Grahame Walsh, election agent for Beaconsfield Constituency branch of the UKIP, said: "We are talking about him when he was 19. People have congratulated us on his frankness."