{UAH} Nigel Farage QUITS Ukip in protest over Tommy Robinson appointment
|
10:43 AM |
No comments |
Nigel Farage QUITS Ukip in protest over new leader Gerard Batten's appointment of Tommy Robinson as adviser on 'Muslim rape gangs'
- Former Ukip leader has long opposed the appointment of Tommy Robinson
- Gerard Batten brought him in as an adviser on rape gangs and prison reform
- Warned involvement of the far-right thug would leave Ukip as the 'new BNP'
Nigel Farage has quit Ukip in protest over new leader Gerard Batten's appointment of Tommy Robinson as an adviser on 'Muslim rape gangs'.
'And so, with a heavy heart, and after all my years of devotion to the party, I am leaving Ukip today,' he wrote in The Telegraph. 'There is a huge space for a Brexit party in British politics, but it won't be filled by Ukip.'
Mr Farage announced last month he would write to the party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to demand a vote of no confidence in Mr Batten.
Nigel Farage (seen speaking at the European Parliament on November 29, 2018) has long opposed the appointment of Tommy Robinson to Ukip
But on Sunday Ukip said its NEC had voted 'overwhelmingly' against a motion of no confidence.
Yesterday, Ukip also lost its former deputy chairwoman, Suzanne Evans, who said she had become 'increasingly alarmed' by the 'perverse direction' Mr Batten was taking the Eurosceptic party.
Announcing her decision, Ms Evans said that 'the NEC and Ukip MEPs might be willing to turn a blind eye to the obvious attempts by Gerard and Tommy Robinson to orchestrate a 'Momentum-style' takeover of Ukip, but I am not'.
She said: 'I was hoping, yesterday, that sense would prevail; that Ukip's National Executive Committee would call for a no confidence vote in Batten, so the party could be prevented from taking a devastatingly wrong turn.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
'But if even those elected to represent ordinary members won't protect Ukip from a leader who appears hell bent on destroying it from within, then there is no hope left.'
In a statement on Sunday, Ukip said that it 'does not endorse the appointment of Tommy Robinson in any advisory role', adding: 'He is not a Ukip member and through his associations he is barred from joining Ukip.'
Mr Batten previously defended his decision to give Mr Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, a role advising him on rape gangs and prison reform, describing the EDL co-founder as 'courageous'.
He denied moving Ukip to the extremes or opening its doors to racists, and told the BBC Mr Robinson would help him turn the party into a 'mass movement... a party for ordinary people'.
Gerard Batten appointed the former EDL leader as an adviser on rape gangs and prison reform. They are pictured in an undated photo
He attacked Mr Farage on Monday, tweeting: 'Nigel Farage failed to get the UKIP MEPs to even have a vote of no confidence in me last Wed in Brussels.
'He failed to get a vote through at yesterday's NEC. Now he's reduced to doing the rounds in the MSM attacking me. My crime? UKIP isn't disappearing under my leadership.'
But MEPs including Patrick O'Flynn, Bill Etheridge and William Dartmouth have all quit the party in recent months over the direction of travel within the party.
Mr Robinson is expected to feature prominently in a Brexit march in London two days before the Commons votes on the UK's EU withdrawal deal at which Mr Batten is due to speak.
Ukip said the December 9 march had not been organised by the party, but added: 'Members are free to attend should they wish.'
Share or comment on this article:
Nigel Farage quits Ukip in protest over Tommy Robinson
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment