Comedian Frankie Boyle has written a piece for the Guardian's Comment is Free section in which he takes issue with Nigel Farage's complaints about "lefties" on panel shows making jokes about UKIP.

In an eloquent, well-argued and funny article Boyle takes a potshot at Farage's suggestion in a recent Independent article responding to the Andrew Lawrence story that “Luvvies look after themselves and look after their own, and when they sense a whiff of dissent in the ranks, first they close up, then they start flailing wildly.”

Boyle suggests that comedians are not known for their solidarity: "It’s hard to think of a less collegiate world than that of unabashed professional narcissists competing for attention; even when we reluctantly band together on panel shows, we’re only trying to sell solo tours."

He goes on to write that if there was any sense of camerarderie this time it was because "maybe just don’t take kindly to what they see as their fellows being targeted because of their race or gender."

The Scottish comedian also took Farage to task for contradictions in his position: "First up, Nigel wants to be seen as a pint-swilling man of the people, but simultaneously to be taken so seriously that nobody can even make a joke about him. He tells us how popular Ukip is and simultaneously how jokes against it is easy populism. Well, which is it?"

Boyle could not resist a closing pop at Farage himself, ending by speculating on the future of the Ukip leader and his party: "Put Farage in jackboots and a leather trenchcoat and he’ll just look like a gay Dr Who. I’m depressed to think that if these wingnuts form a coalition I, as a comedian, will have to know the names of some real morons". 

Read the full Guardian article here.