The English Democrats candidate for Holborn and St Pancras wants to give England its own parliament, “properly” celebrate St George’s Day and open a 24/7 NHS animal hospital.
Janus Polenceusz, 33, said his party is the English equivalent of the SNP or Plaid Cymru – but stresses that he would only want an independent England if other members of the United Kingdom seceded first.
The Haringey-based hardware store cashier – who has Polish, Lebanese, German and Greek ancestry – was also at pains to dismiss the notion the English Democrats are far-right or racist.
He told the Ham&High: “I left Ukip to join the party because they are the far-right now.
“It’s very annoying the English Democrats have a reputation for being far-right – I’m a centrist.
“Thank god Winston McKenzie joined because he improved the image and made anyone with far-right views move away, him being a black guy.”
His primary concern is that England gets its own parliament, the absence of which he puts down to “what England did” in the past.
“I think there’s still a revenge on England, on a historical basis,” he said, adding that England subsidises Scotland and Northern Ireland despite having some of the “poorest facilities”.
He added: “English MPs have no say on what happens in the other countries but they have a say on what happens in England – it’s unfair.”
On the EU, Mr Polenceusz said he is happy Britain voted to leave an organisation it “shouldn’t have been a member of in the first place”.
“It was a bureaucracy and a dictatorship,” he said.
“I think the Soviet Union was even more of a democracy than the EU – at least it was a proper union.”
The “millions of pounds” saved by leaving the EU, he added, could set up an “NHS based centre” dedicated to animals.
“This will be an animal A&E hospital, opened 24 hours a day for use by people on low income, for seriously ill animals,” he said.
Discussing Britain’s asylum system, Mr Polenceusz said refugees should be kept in a “reservation” while their claim is assessed.
A Christian, he also stressed his opposition to Sharia – Islamic law – having a place in Britain.
“I’ve got nothing against Muslims, but [Sharia] sounds ridiculous – this country’s religion is the Church of England,” he said.
“People should try to adapt to this country.”
He added: “We wouldn’t go to a Muslim country and try to change it to a Christian country.”
Mr Polenceusz also said it was crucial to “properly” celebrate St George’s Day and Guy Fawkes’ Night as a way of honouring England’s culture.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here