UKIP councillors in North East Lincolnshire say the party's former MEP Godfrey Bloom will remain "a positive voice for reason in our country".
They also claimed that Mr Bloom's use of the word "slut" had been taken out of context, and that the media frenzy which led to his resignation had been unjustified.
Mr Bloom announced on Tuesday that he would not be seeking re-election as MEP for Yorkshire and Humber next year, and would serve out the rest of his term as an independent.
He had already been suspended from the party and had the party whip withdrawn after joking that women he was addressing during a party event were "all sluts" because they didn't clean behind the fridge.
However, he said he would remain a member of the party.
A statement released by the local UKIP group said: "Although Godfrey has said things that have been near the mark in his political career, it is sad that one word taken completely out of context has had such a disastrous result.
"The dictionary definition of the word 'slut' clearly indicates a word with a double meaning, and identifies a word that Godfrey was perfectly entitled to use, in a light-hearted exchange about the merits of not cleaning, behind a fridge.
"Did this really deserve such media frenzy, or was it deliberately orchestrated to deflect attention away from a very successful UKIP Conference in London?
"Is it not also true that all parties need a big-hitter? Thank goodness that we do live in a world that political correctness has outlawed comments of a derogatory nature about race, colour, religion and many other subjects, and that any form of bullying is frowned upon.
"But does this mean that our politicians have to hide their god given character to satisfy the blandness of the political theatre?
"Godfrey has moved on because he will not dispense with his cavalier approach to political correctness, that is his decision, but he remains a staunch supporter of UKIP.
"When Godfrey speaks, people listen and it is to be hoped that this intelligent and kind-hearted patriot remains a positive voice for reason in our country."
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