Ukip accused of Islamophobia as leader refuses to rule-out running for Parliament

The criticism came as leader Paul Nuttall refused to confirm whether or not he will stand in the forthcoming snap election, despite expectations among members that he will run.

Unveiling the party's new "integration agenda" at an election event in London earlier today, Mr Nuttall listed a series of controversial policies, including an outright ban on niqabs and the practice of Sharia.

The mini-manifesto was immediately slated by critics across the political spectrum, with Green Party leader Caroline Lucas describing it as an "attack on Muslims".

"Ukip's 'integration agenda' is an assault on multiculturalism... It's full throttled Islamaphobia," Ms Lucas said.

"Now that the referendum has passed Nuttall's party is desperately scrabbling around for relevance and seem to have settled upon attacks on Muslims and fringe far-right politics as their new home.

"In this election the Green Party will be standing up to the politics of hate spewing from Ukip and putting forward a vision for a multicultural, welcoming Britain which we can all be proud of."

Among the policies outlined by Ukip was a call for girls "at risk" of FGM to have medical examinations every year, and when they return from travelling abroad.

The party is also proposing a ban sharia from being applied in the UK, a ban on the wearing of "face coverings" in public places and a "moratorium" on new Islamic faith schools.

Defending the policies, Mr Nuttall stated they were "not designed to sow the seeds of division" but instead to "[promote] integration in British society".

He added that he believed Ukip was "10 years ahead of our time" on these issues, predicting the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats will be "where we are today at some point in the 2020s".

Responding to questions from journalists, Mr Nuttall refused to commit to standing in the general election, but suggested he would stay on in the role if he fails to become an MP.

He repeatedly pointed to a meeting of Ukip's national executive committee at the end of the week, after which candidate selections will be made.

Commenting on the new agenda, Liberal Democrats warned that it risks "[alienating] the very communities we are trying to reach out to".

Former Home Office minister Lynne Featherstone described the party's approach as "horrifically heavy-handed".

"UKIP seem to try and out-do Le Pen with right-wing policies that are insensitive and frankly outrageous," she said.

"Research shows that school teachers are still too scared to talk about FGM, honour-based violence and forced marriage, let alone report it," she said.

"This is where we should concentrate our efforts not forcing girls to undergo invasive medical examinations."