Mrs Jones said she does not “feel welcome in the assembly group” and has not been “treated equally or as favourably” as Mr Bennett or Neil Hamilton, the first UKIP group leader.
She alleged a leadership election was called to get her out of the job, and questioned whether the way it was held adhered to the party’s constitution.
Image caption Gerard Batten has taken the party in “a direction I’m not comfortable with”, Caroline Jones said
Mrs Jones told BBC Wales Mr Batten – who has been highly critical of Islam – was changing the party “to a more far-right position, which a lot of the long-standing members are finding quite unfavourable, including myself”.
“I never joined the party to be part of a far-right organisation – I joined the party because I wanted to come out of the European Union,” she said.
“Gerard Batten should listen to all sides and try to mediate and bring people together, as opposed to alienating them.
“He’s brought a lot of views into UKIP which people, the more moderate members, of the party have asked him to tone down.”
She alleged she had been subject of “misogyny”, claiming examples of a meeting where she was allegedly told to “shut up”, one where she had a pair of glasses thrown at her, and another where she was told to stop taking minutes.
Mrs Jones said: “I never liked the way that certain members in the assembly conducted themselves in their attitude towards female members.”
Media captionGareth Bennett said it would be easier for the UKIP group to operate without Caroline Jones
The MEP said: “I have brought the party back from financial meltdown, raised funds, raised membership numbers, and raised UKIP in the polls. Ms Jones has contributed nothing that I am aware of.”
He added: “Her statement is politically correct twaddle to disguise the fact that Mrs Jones is politically ineffective. I wish her well languishing in the outer realms of irrelevance.”
UKIP assembly group leader Gareth Bennett said he was “not totally surprised” by Mrs Jones’s exit and suggested people in the party who do not agree with its direction should “get off the train and then make it easier for the group to operate”.
He said UKIP was not moving to the far right but said not everyone in the party agreed with Mr Batten’s direction.
Mr Bennett denied the misogyny accusations – he confirmed that Caroline Jones had been told to “shut up” at a group meeting but said it was not related to her gender.
“There was poor behaviour from probably two or three people in that room at that meeting,” he said.
“I’m supremely confident that the group will eventually cohere.”
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption Neil Hamilton was ousted as UKIP assembly group leader by Caroline Jones in May
Neil Hamilton has called on Mrs Jones to resign her regional list seat and allow another UKIP member to become an AM, but she told BBC Radio Wales that she would not stand down.
Under the regional list system used to elect 20 of the 60 assembly members, voters choose a party rather than a specific candidate.
When a regional AM resigns, they are usually succeeded by the person who was next on the list for their party at the previous assembly election in that region.
I hear rumours from a usually well informed insider that Michelle Brown, currently Ukip AM for North Wales is likely to quit representing them shortly and represent her own views as an Independent.
Although Gareth Bennett is expected to run for leadership of the National Party at the next Ukip Leadership election, but he may find a snag in his plan as it is likely that the hapless Gerard Batten may well step down and not seek re-election after the crass ineptitude of his period standing in as leader nationally.
If Batten does cut and run it is expected he will back Mike Hookem for the leadership, well the field is staggeringly poor as anyone who has followed Ukip will appreciate – it is clear there is not a single individual with the relevant experience or visible qualities needed.
Regards,
Greg_L-W.
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Greg Lance - Watkins (Greg_L-W)
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We welcome comments but reserve the right to moderate & refuse libelous or offensive comments and those we choose to delete when written by unidentifiable individuals hidden in anonymity in a cowardly manner to defame or abuse. No comment has EVER been barred or deleted which is genuine & clearly authored by a named & identifiable individual. You will note many comments made have been commented on and even corrected by the blog owner. We welcome genuine comments.