text: Ukip's election campaign chief has admitted that the party sometimes resembles a 'rugby club on tour' with members who can be 'boorish' and 'chauvinistic'. Patrick O'Flynn, who is also the party's economics spokesman, said Ukip needs to 'work harder' as it is 'lagging' behind with female voters. As he launched the party's 'policies for women' alongside the Ukip deputy chairman Suzanne Evans and MEP Diane James, Mr O'Flynn was forced to defend its 'blokeish' image under Nigel Farage. Patrick O'Flynn, who is also the party's economics spokesman, said Ukip needs to 'work harder' as it is 'lagging' behind with female voters . Polls suggest around 15 per cent of men are planning to back Ukip, compared to only 10 per cent of women. Mr O'Flynn: 'Nigel has said sometimes Ukip has resembled a rugby club on tour. I think that's becoming less and less true and indeed the two top rank female politicians sitting alongside me today are two of the main reasons for that. 'But we need to work harder and there still are occasions where people in the party, men in the party, who should know better, have occasionally resorted to boorishness or chauvinism. When that happens I make sure I express my own displeasure. 'We're a very fast-growing party, we're increasing our attraction – it clearly is daft for us to see a political context where we're not maximising our support in every potential group. 'And, as set out today, there is no reason why we should be lagging with female voters – we still are, we've got to work harder on addressing those issues and we are doing.' The event was delayed after the Ukip-branded backdrop collapsed minutes before the press conference was due to begin, sparking frantic work to rebuild the set. Ukip leader Nigel Farage is often photographed smoking cigarettes and drinking pints of beer . The party used the event confirm a raft of policies, including removing VAT from sanitary products, which they have dubbed a 'tampon tax'. It also said it would give 'absolute, full and unconditional' support for current maternity and paternity leave laws, as well as making sure maternity wards are 'properly resourced'. Ms James said the party would tackle the problem of female genital mutilation (FGM), which she warned is 'accepted cultural practice' for some of 'our ethnic compatriots'. Mrs Evans, who is writing the party's election manifesto, blamed the gap in support for Ukip between men and women on 'lies' and 'myths' spread about the party. She said: 'I think it is because of the lies the other parties have put out about us. 'There is this myth we will scrap maternity leave, that we hate women, that we don't do anything for women - I think Diane and I are living proof. 'Unfortunately the propaganda the other parties put about has hit very hard and very deep.' Suzanne Evans, who is writing the party's election manifesto, blamed the gap in support for Ukip between men and women on 'lies' and 'myths' spread about the party . Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom was forced out of the party in September 2013 after branding women who do not clean behind the fridge as 'sluts'. Mr Farage, who was absent from the women's event, has previously been criticised for controversial remarks about breast-feeding and whether women are less valuable to employers after they have been on maternity leave. The party leader is often photographed smoking cigarettes and drinking pints of beer.
target: Ukip launches its 'policies for women' to address gender divide .
  15% of men planning to back Ukip, compared to only 10% of women voters .
  MEP Patrick O'Flynn says party still resorts to 'boorishness or chauvinism'