Former Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom has said no "sane" person from a professional background would enter politics these days because they would be vilified for holding convictions.
Mr Bloom is now an Independent MEP for Yorkshire and Humber after he was criticised for calling women at a meeting "sluts" and hitting the Channel Four News journalist Michael Crick over the head with a conference programme.
He had previously been widely condemned for referring to Bongo Bongo Land when he was discussing overseas aid.
Writing in the Yorkshire Post newspaper, Mr Bloom said the media coverage meant "no sane individual from a successful professional background would now go into" politics.
He explained: "The vilification and lies overwhelm anyone with conviction."
The politician said there was mock outrage in the media about his recent comments.
He said: "Is Is Bongo Bongo Land offensive? Only if I say it. Nick Robinson, the BBC's political editor, used it in his book Live From Downing Street last year and no one said a word.
"But of course he isn't me."
Mr Bloom claimed his "sluts" remark - which he said was a joke - was met with more "mock outrage", but not from members of the public.
He then described being "harassed by an awful little man with a camera in a London street".
Mr Bloom continued: "I swat him with a magazine, more horror and mock outrage."
He claimed to be pleased to be returning to the back benches, but pitied the electorate who will only have a choice of "grey, boring, stand-for-nothing politicians whose names you cannot even remember".
He concluded his article by saying: "You're welcome to 'em."
When Mr Bloom decided to stand down as a Ukip MEP the party leader Nigel Farage said: "I'm very sorry it has come to this, he's been with us for 15 years, he's sat in the European Parliament since 2004, he absolutely 100% believes in everything Ukip stands for and he's been a good, loyal MEP for us.
"It's a sorry state of affairs."
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