An outspoken British politician who lost the party whip last week for calling a room of women "sluts" and hitting a journalist with a brochure has resigned.

MEP for the right wing UK Independent Party Godfrey Bloom was stripped of his legislating privileges on Friday over remarks he made at a forum on women in politics during the first day of his party's annual conference in London.

"I think all of the girls said 'no, none of us clean behind the fridge' and I made a joke and said 'oh, well you're all sluts' and everybody laughed, including all the women," Bloom recalled when questioned afterwards by a journalist.

Video: UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom claims his derogatory comment was in fact a joke

In the same day he also confronted Channel 4's Political Correspondent Michael Crick after the journalist questioned why there were no black people pictured on the cover of his party's conference brochure.

"That's an appalling thing to say. You're picking people out for the colour of their skin. You disgust me," Bloom said before walking away. When Crick questioned him further Bloom took the brochure from him and hit him over the head.

Video: Bloom reacts with hostility to a question over whether his party's conference brochure was racist

On his decision to leave the party, Bloom said the "New UKIP" was "not really right for me any more".

He will sit as an independent MEP for the rest of his term, and will remain a member of UKIP.

His spokeswoman said it was not clear whether he would seek re-election for a third term next May.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Mr Bloom's antics had distracted attention from the party's core message, but stressed they could still make serious inroads at Westminster in 2015 and potentially hold the balance of power after the election.

Mr Farage said the MEP had "just gone way over the line".