UKIP leader compares jailed Tommy Robinson to Nelson Mandela claiming history will see him as a ‘hero’

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UKIP’s leader has compared Tommy Robinson to Nelson Mandela, the man who spent decades fighting to end the racist state of South Africa.

Gerard Batten heaped praise on the jailed far-right EDL founder, who has accused Islamic extremists of “waging war on us” and was banned from Twitter for breaching its policy on “hateful conduct”.

He told the BBC’s Newsnight: “In the great scheme of things, when these events are played out, he will be seen as on the right side of a struggle between good and evil.”

Critics will see Mr Batten’s comments as further evidence of UKIP’s dramatic shift to the right under his leadership.

It comes days after Mr Batten spoke at a rally in support of Robinson, despite UKIP banning EDL members from joining the party years ago.

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