"a ridiculous overstatement"

Is Terence Nathan no more qualified to be a politician than Boris Johnson? I don’t think he feels that he made a ridiculous statement. He instead feels that he just stated his honest opinion too strongly. What did he exactly want to convey with the phrase “time to start killing these people”?

Mr Nathan wrote: “Time to start killing these people till article 50 is invoked”, adding “perhaps remainers will get the message then.”
Ukip councillor Terence Nathan says 'Remainers should be killed until Article 50 invoked' http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/ukip-councillor-terence-nathan-says-remainers-should-be-killed-until-article-50-invoked/ar-BBuzxDV?ocid=spartandhp
"Mr Nathan has since apologised for the comments saying: “My comments were only intended to be taken with a pinch of salt.
"A pinch of salt"?

“40,000 lodge complaint with police accusing Farage and Leave.EU campaign of inciting racial and religious hatred” http://a.msn.com/01/en-gb/BBuzPdG?ocid=st