THE importance of music and song to politics and protest is a tradition that stretches back as far as historical records extend.

A high point in modern times is considered by many to be mid 20th Century America, and Woodie Guthrie giving voice to a generation of poor and oppressed Americans, providing inspiration for Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger, and also influencing singers from these shores who carried a message, like Billy Bragg and Joe Strummer of The Clash.

The connection between music and politics hit an all time low this week, however, when Mike Read released the Ukip calypso, where Mr Read decided to put on a Caribbean accent and extol the merits of Nigel Farage and his merry band.

The former Radio 1 DJ (I don't know what he has been doing since 1984, when he had Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax banned from the BBC), said the song is not racist, but then Ukip claim their policies are not racist either.

The song includes the lines: "The leaders committed a cardinal sin. Open the borders let them all come in. Illegal immigrants in every town. Stand up and be counted Blair and Brown."

We can all make our own minds up on the non-racist claims of both Mike Read and Nigel Farage.

Read said the Calypso was a 'bit of fun and satire' but I don't think he will be getting a call from Private Eye or be asked to write a new series of Spitting Image anytime soon.

And whoever thinks there is anything fun about Nigel Farage getting anywhere near 10 Downing Street is in need of a long relaxing holiday somewhere in the Caribbean themselves.

The history of political and protest song is littered with talented people expressing the hopes, fears and dreams of people denied a voice.

Many of the people who the UK has 'opened the doors and let them all come in' to have fled regimes and conditions that are oppressive and unjust.

Writing a song about a party which wants to deny so many people the opportunity of seeking a better life in a country where they can be safe and demonising them as being the cause of our own self- made ills is reprehensible if not repulsive.

Producing something intended to be 'a bit of a laugh' plays to Farage's image of being a regular guy you could have a pint with down the pub, not like those other politicians.

The joke will be on us if 'nice guy Nigel' and any significant number of his colleagues laugh their way into Westminster after the General Election next May.

Woodie Guthrie's guitar carried the slogan 'This machine kills Fascists' and he inspired thousands to pick up a guitar, but the only thing Mike Read had people reaching for was earplugs ... or maybe a sick bag.