IN HIS column (The Press 29 May 14), Julian Cole espouses his views on UKIP supporters (I am not one, for the record).

However, to underline his point, he uses an unpleasant regional stereotype of the straw-chewing bumpkin to infer that the Somerset voter is ill-educated making the voter’s opinion inferior to his own.

Similar treatment of the electorate by the old order of mainstream politicians and the media intelligentsia throughout the campaign has probably accelerated the progress UKIP has made.

As an aside, I suggest he would not dare use a similar insult towards a nationality or ethnic grouping through fear of immediate censure.

Mike Huffington, Walmgate, York.