London Evening Standard/London

On live radio, the Ukip leader claimed that former South Basildon and East Thurrock candidate Kerry Smith was a “rough diamond” from a council estate.

But his defence comes less than a week after new Ukip MP Douglas Carswell said racist language like that used by the disgraced party hopeful was “intolerable”.

Speaking on an LBC Radio call-in show, Farage said: “If you and your mates were going out for a Chinese, what do you say you’re going for?” He added that “a lot of people would” use the word in question, and railed against the “snobbish” London elite who sneer at such language.

Smith stood down as candidate after it emerged he used the word along with other offensive terms. In recordings of calls, obtained by the Mail on Sunday, Smith was said to have also mocked gay party members.

He also joked about shooting people from Chigwell in a “peasant hunt” and referred to somebody as a “Ch*nky bird”.

Farage said: “I don’t think I’ve ever used that word.” He went on: “Kerry is a rough diamond, he’s a council house boy from the East End of London, left school early and talks and speaks in a way that a lot of people from that background do.

“I think we are very snobbish in London about condemning people perhaps for the colloquial language they use, particularly if it’s not meant with really unpleasant intent.

“Kerry himself said that he used language that Del Boy used to use on Only Fools and Horses and nobody objected then.”

But he did make it clear that he thought it was right Smith was not standing to become an MP.

Carswell, a former Tory MP who defected to Ukip and has been spoken of as a potential leader, slammed the use of racist terms on Monday.

He told the Standard: “No ifs, no buts, no lacklustre excuses, this sort of language and behaviour is not tolerable.” He added: “First and second-generation Britons are as much a part of this country as anyone else.

“Any Ukip candidate seeking parliamentary office needs to speak with respect for their fellow countrymen and women.”