UK politician sparks race row over 'ethnic extraction' comment on Sikh journo

A UK politician had reportedly referred to a British-born Sikh journalist as 'some form of ethnic extraction', sparking a row over racism allegations.

Gawain Towler, who is the PR manager for UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage, used the phrase in a text referring to journalist Kiran Randhawa, who works in a London-based newspaper.

According to The Independent, the news came to light after Towler, who will be a UKIP candidate in next year's European elections, mistakenly sent the text to a photographer instead of a party colleague.

Condemning Towler's remarks, Conservative Party MP Nadhim Zahawi said that no one in this age should use such language especially if they want to be seen as fit to run the country.

However, Towler, who had later apologised to Randhawa, strongly denied that he had made the comment in a racist context, saying that his partner is Indian.