Private Eye hits back over UKIP candidate’s criticism

Mike Hookem complained he had received death threats after his business card was printed in full in Private Eye including his mobile telephone number and email address.

But the magazine has pointed out that Mr Hookem’s mobile phone number is already in the public domain because it can be viewed on the UKIP website.

Mr Hookem told the Yorkshire Post: “It is on the website but I still think it is a little bit silly of them to publish all my details. I’ve had another phone call today on the same lines.

“I’m not happy with them putting them out there and my wife and daughter are worried about what’s happening.

“I think what they are saying is an easy cop out.”

Mr Hookem is UKIP’s chairman for the Yorkshire and Humber region and is standing as one of the party’s candidates in the European elections which take place in May.

Private Eye, which is famous for poking fun at politicians, published a picture of one of Mr Hookem’s business cards after a mistake led to “independence” in the party’s name being printed as “independance”.

Mr Hookem said following the publication he had received two anonymous death threats which he had reported to the police.

He said he had written to Private Eye to demand an explanation.

Mr Hookem is third on UKIP’s list of candidates for Yorkshire in the European Elections behind Jane Collins and Amjad Bashir.

He has previously stood as a candidate in the 2010 General Election.