I Believe This Is Yet More Libelous Behaviour Could End In Court – Steve Crowther, Nigel Farage & Ukip having been shown to have libelled Amjid Bashir, paid compensation and undertaking never to repeat their libelous allegations – an agreement binding on all!
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Hi,
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many of you will remember the unpleasant spat and Nigel Farage & Ukip in general’s reaction to Amjad Bashir’s decision to quit Ukip to serve in David Cameron’s party within the EU.
Nigel Farage’s open criticism and libelous accusations of Bashir having acted in a dubious financial manner met with a clear reaction.
Although there were rumours and allegations at the time that a candidate had directly paid Nigel Farage for a position on the list as a prospective MEP! That Nigel Farage did not utilise the defence of ‘Veritas’ would seem to indicate it was not Bashir who paid a 5 figure sum to Nigel Farage for his position as a prospective MEP.
Details of the original libel alleged and for which Nigel Farage & Steve Crowther on their own and on behalf of Ukip apologised and signed an undertaking that they would not repeat the libels and as you will not they undertook to compensate Mr. Bashir.
That that story was written by A.B. Sanderson whom I am reliably informed is a false name used by Annabelle Fuller denounced in the EU Parliament as Nigel Farage’s sometime mistress and on Ukip’s payrole in some form or another – it is also worthy of note that the editor of Breitbary was in the employ of Nigel Farage aka Ukip in one form or another as part of Farage’s media corp.
As a point of interest it is clear, even from the article below, that for Nigel Farage, Steve Crowther or any other party to repeat the false allegations against Bashir is an offence under law!
UKIP’s Nigel Farage facing High Court threat from Amjad Bashir
UKIP leader Nigel Farage is facing legal action from an ex-UKIP MEP who defected to the Tories, the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show has learned.
Amjad Bashir’s lawyers have written to Mr Farage asking him to publicly withdraw a range of allegations he made in January and pay damages.
The letter says otherwise he could face possible libel action in the High Court.
A UKIP spokesman said: “UKIP does not take part in trial by television.”
But it said it could not comment further while the legal case was ongoing.
Defection
Mr Bashir – MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber – joined the Conservatives in January, saying that UKIP had become a “party of ruthless self-interest” and had a “ridiculous” lack of policies.
But hours before his defection was to be made public he was suspended by UKIP, which said in a press release it was over “unanswered financial and employment questions”.
The following day, Mr Farage said he had become “increasingly alarmed” by Mr Bashir’s behaviour and that his “only surprise” was that the Conservative Party had accepted him as a member.
At the time Mr Bashir dismissed all the allegations – made on BBC One’s Andrew Marr programme and an interview on the Daily Telegraph and ITV websites – as “totally wrong” and an attempt to “muddy the waters”.
Image caption Mr Bashir appeared alongside UKIP leader Nigel Farage at the launch of the party’s 2014 local and European elections campaign
Now the Victoria Derbyshire programme has seen a nine-page legal letter from Mr Bashir’s solicitors, Atkins Thompson, sent in mid-March to Mr Farage and UKIP chairman Steve Crowther.
The letter says: “There can be no other conclusion that [the allegations] were published as part of a deliberate campaign on the part of UKIP and its most senior officers to discredit Mr Bashir in retaliation for his decision to join the Conservative Party.”
It demands that a press release detailing the allegations is removed from the UKIP website; that an apology to Mr Bashir is made in open court; and that damages and legal costs are paid.
“Contrary to the impression given by the press release, [Mr Bashir] had no forewarning of what UKIP had decided to allege,” the letter says.
In a statement, Mr Bashir said: “As soon as the various allegations were made it became clear that I had no choice but to pursue legal advice.
“I have taken that advice, we have compiled a case, and this now remains in the hands of my lawyers.”
He said he would not comment further on the case while it is still ongoing.
The BBC understands that lawyers representing both Mr Farage and Mr Crowther have asked for extra time to consider the letter and will respond by mid-April.
Victoria Derbyshire is broadcast weekdays from 09:15-11:00 BST on BBC Two and BBC News Channel. Follow the programme on Facebook and Twitter, and find all our content online.
This all seems to have been deliberately ignored in recent days, leading us to expect that Nigel Farage, Steve Crowther and a list of others amongst their associates may well. within the next week or two, find themselves in Court facing very substantial fines and liable to punitive damages.
Clearly this article CLICK HERE would seem to overstep the mark legally, this it was also the product of Breitbart, this time written by the close associate of Nigel Farage Raheem Kassam who is passed off as The Editor of Brietbart the callibre of which being shown by their editors comment and language:
So imagine how utterly unsurprised I was, given my history with the Shakespeare wanker, to see that two ‘Vote Leave’ senior figures have already started slagging off UKIP and its members: Daniel Hannan MEP and Gisela Stuart MP.
Also high on the list of those flouting the law are displayed by these screen shots over the last few days:
Well it does look as if Nigel Farage & Steve Crowther are likely to appear being closely followed in the Courts by Breitbart, Raheem Kassam, Mick McGough, Annabelle Fuller and Mike Hookem MEP. None of whom would seem to have made it clear that the articles and facts to which the allude as being subject to an appology as libel and liable to possible punitive damages!
It is sad to see those making a pretence of rejecting membership of the EU so willing to undermise their claims to wish to Leave-The-EU, with their language and behaviour!
It will however be interesting to see how long they are silenced and how savage are the fines and damages as they bring the body political into disrepute at this crucial time in Britain’s history.
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Regards, Greg_L-W.
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Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins
tel: 44 (0)1594 – 528 337
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many believe that Nigel Farage’s support for BreXit is in the main a kiss of death to the Leave-The_EU Campaign, with his undeniably racist immage as he centers his efforts on inciting racial hatred aimed at immigrants – he is in the position that on certain issues a mild whisper from him becomes a violent shout amongst his fan club in Ukip, a position of responsibility he has never failed to abuse for his own glory and enrichment!
Cash and immigrants are as insignificant to most who might have voted to Leave-The-EU as his other two mantras revolving around drink and smoking as he promotes his libertine life style as some sort of role model for the weak and gullible.
If you thought Nigel Farage & Ukip’s actions were damaging to the Leave-The-EU cause they are nothing to the well publicised and bitter squabbling in Ukip especially north of the border where Farage’s henchman the loud mothed bufoon and Ukip MEP David Cameron is dragging the Leave Campaign into the ill informed, bullying and boorish gutter he seems so at home in!
Scottish ‘Vote Leave’ launch descends into farce as Ukip roll up
Scottish ‘Vote Leave’ launch descends into farce as Ukip roll up
Tom Gordon, Scottish Political Editor
THE launch of the official EU Out campaign in Scotland descended into farce yesterday, after the organisers turned away Scotland’s only Ukip MEP for trying to speak uninvited.
The Vote Leave campaign refused entry to David Coburn after he pitched up at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow and threw a strop when he was told he couldn’t take part. One witness said Coburn had been “furious” at the snub.
However, the Remain or In side also had its problems on the first weekend of the EU campaign, after former Tory chancellor Kenneth Clarke said David Cameron “wouldn’t last 30 seconds if he lost the referendum”.
Despite the Prime Minister telling MPs last week that he would stay to negotiate the terms of the UK’s withdrawal if there was a Brexit vote, Clarke said that scenario was “just farcical”.
“We’d be plunged into a Conservative leadership crisis, which is never very edifying,” he said, adding the Tory party would have a “devil of a job” to come together again, however the vote goes on June 23.
London Mayor Boris Johnson attacked Cameron for “shamefully” spending £9.3m of public money on a pro-EU leaflet for every UK household, saying the 14-page document was “not sufficiently absorbent for the purposes” to which some people might like to put it.
Johnson, also criticised Barack Obama for “hypocrisy” ahead of his visit to the UK this week, when he is expected to support Cameron’s call to stay in the EU.
He said the US President had a “perfect right” to comment, but added it was “absolutely bizarre that we are being lectured by the Americans about giving up our sovereignty” when they “would never dream” of sharing theirs with the EU or anyone else.
Speaking in Washington, Chancellor George Osborne said it was the “overwhelming view” of foreign governments and international bodies like the IMF and Nato that the UK should stay in the EU, and warned Brexit could mean higher mortgage rates.
In Glasgow, Scottish Vote Leave director Tom Harris said Coburn had “invited himself to be one of the speakers” at its launch, and threatened to be disruptive when he was refused.
Harris said: “If he wants to get involved in the campaign, I am happy to discuss that with him. But I am not going to be pressurised into giving him a speaker spot at the last minute.”
Coburn said he had gone “to wish them well and offer my shoulder to the ecumenical wheel as the established lead voice and only Pro-Brexit elected representative in Scotland. I did then offer to speak at the event, as I thought having someone the Scots had actually elected speaking would help rebalance the event. My offer was declined.”
At the event, Harris claimed pro-Brexit SNP, Labour and Tory candidates in May’s Holyrood election feared speaking out on Europe because they were being “gagged” by their parties.
He said: “A lot of them just don’t want to rock the boat and draw attention to themselves. I know there are candidates standing for the Scottish Parliament who feel as I do, that we should be leaving the EU on June 23. But they are inhibited by their own party’s [Remain] line on the EU, and don’t want to say anything publicly at least until May 5, and possibly not even after that. That is fundamentally undemocratic.
“It is absolutely essential that we have the opportunity to grill our candidates and get an honest answer from them on whether or not they will actually vote themselves to leave or remain. It is not enough to say it is a separate election from the referendum.” Also speaking, Tory Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said the EU was “unreformable” and primarily a political project to create a “country called Europe”.
Villiers said Britain joined in 1973 in an “admission of defeat” that the country was facing “chronic decline”, but it was now time for “self-governing democracy” to return.
“I fundamentally believe we are better off, safer, more secure, more prosperous if this country is outside the EU,” she said, claiming Brexit could mean better export deals on whisky.
The Out campaign’s efforts coincided with the SNPs’ two MEPs launching the ‘The Wee Bleu Book’, a voter-friendly guide to the EU and the the case for staying in it.
The 64-page tract is available free from the scotlandineuope.eu website. There is also an initial print run of 2000 hard copies. Authors Alyn Smith and Ian Hudghton said they wanted the book to become the go-to resource for the EU referendum.
Smith said: “My focus, obviously, is the Holyrood election but as I’ve been travelling the country there is no denying that EU stuff is being talked about, so this website is available to all as a resource to get the real facts out there.
“There’s a lot of nonsense spoken about the EU, and it’s important not to be distracted from the fact that EU membership is entirely in our best interests and the SNP is enthusiastically backing a Remain vote for the right reasons.
“While it has been produced for SNP activists, I hope the book reaches wider. At least on paper, Scottish politics is broadly united that our best interests are remaining in the EU so while every party will be doing their own thing, if anyone wants to use this I’m delighted.”
With an avg. 1.2M voters per MEP & Britain having only 8%, if united, say. The EUropean Parliament has no ability to make policy and has a Commission of unelected bureaucrats, thus clearly the EU is not even a pretence of being a democracy; yet The EU & many of its vassal States are willing to slaughter people in Sovereign States to impose The EU’s chosen brand of democracy on them!
The imposition of a Government and policies upon its vassal regions such as the peoples of Greece shows just how far from being a democracy the EU is.
There will be little or no change in Britain’s economic position, when we leave the EU, using a better negotiated & updated version of the ‘Norway Model’ as a stepping stone to becoming a full member of the Eropean Economic Area, where all will benefit, as we secure trade relations with the EU’s vassal regions, with an EFTA style status and can trade and negotiate independently on the global stage, as members of The Commonwealth and the Anglosphere.
One huge benefit will be that we can negotiate with bodies like the WTO, UN, WHO, IMF, CODEX and the like, directly in our own interest and that of our partners around the world in both the Commonwealth and the Anglosphere at large; rather than having negotiations and term imposed by unelected EU bureacrats and their ionterpretation of the rules handed down as if they were some great achievement by the EU.
The greatest change and benefit will be political, as we improve our democracy and self determination, with the ability to deselect and elect our own Government, with an improved Westminster structure, see >Harrogate Agenda<.
How we go about the process of disentangling our future wellbeing from the EU is laid out in extensive, well researched and immensely tedious detail see >FleXcit< or for a brief video summary CLICK HERE
Ukip Presses The Self Destruct Button Over BreXit Greeds & Splits exposed by the ambition for designation in the gift of The Electoral Commision!
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Ukip group deputy leader on Essex County Council quits party after getting ‘squeezed’ between rival EU campaigns
Andy Erskine has quit as a Ukip councillor after being caught between the bickering Vote Leave and Leave EU/Grassroots Out campaigns.
2 hrs ago / James Dwan, Chief Reporter / @JamesDwan
A HARWICH town councillor and deputy leader of the UKIP group at County Hall has quit the Eurosceptic party following rows between rival campaigns to leave the EU.
Andy Erskine, of Gordon Road, Dovercourt, said he had been caught between the bickering Vote Leave and Leave EU/Grassroots Out campaigns.
He has now decided to quit UKIP altogether and will sit as an independent at Harwich Town Council, where he represents the West Central ward, and will join the non-aligned independent group at Essex County Council, where he represents Tendring Rural East.
The Leave EU campaign, launched by wealthy UKIP backer Arron Banks, is the preferred choice of Ukip leader Nigel Farage, but Clacton MP Douglas Carswell is supporting the cross-party Vote Leave campaign.
“The main reason I’m leaving is because the official UKIP line is to follow the Grassroots Out campaign,” said Mr Erskine.
“I follow Douglas and have done for some time, at least 12 years, and he supports the Vote Leave campaign.
“It is really causing so many issues between council members at district level and further up – and I’m getting squeezed.
“I can’t be seen to take sides, but as an independent I will be supporting both until the moment one of the other is chosen to be the official ‘out’ campaign’.
“The problem has been that I can’t be seen to be on one side or the other without causing friction or getting grief from Tendring UKIP members.”
Nigel Le Gresley, leader of UKIP at Essex County Council, said he was sorry to lose Mr Erskine from the group.
He added: “Andy has been a superb member of both Ukip and the group, and he has added very much to the body of work we have been doing to get a referendum and put the message out that our community is so much better out of the EU.”
Ukip, Nigel Farage & Power Struggles WILL LOSE The Referendum For BreXit – Just as the 1975 Referendum was lost by the British peoples’ best interests due to a lack of coherent plan, FUD, the lies of the EU & Government & squabbling!
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Hi,
Ukip are squabbling like ferrets in a sack – just for a change!
This time it is a power struggle where Nigel Farage would seem willing to do absolutely anything to get his hands on the cash available if ‘Grassroots-Out’ aka ‘Leave-EU’ can get the designation in the EU Referendum.
Susanne Evans together with a few cronies, just doesn’t seem to believe Nigel Farage can be trusted and have joined his opposition contesting for designation and the pot of gold.
All this greed, self importance, show boating and squabbling is clearly at the cost of these United Kingdoms and the best interests of Britain and our peoples – in fact EUrope at large and global peace, as it stands this is just a repeat of the 1975 Referendum – almost as if these squabbling ferretts are using the book on the 1975 Referendum as an instruction manual!
All the same mistakes are being made that lost Britain the Referendum in 1975 with most of the same lies and desperate claims designed to spread FUD that won the day for the EU in 1975 – Read the book for yourself it is available in electronic version free CLICK HERE
Suzanne Evans’ application in the High Court to have her suspension from UKIP lifted has failed. She’ll have to pay £5,000 costs. Patrick O’Flynn has started a petition to get her reinstated. Read all the gory details of the court case only on Guido here…
UPDATE: Suzanne speaks:
“I am stunned and distressed by this latest turn of events. I will look to take up whatever right of appeal is open to me. I remain determined to keep my personal focus on working to the full extent of my ability to help secure a ‘Leave’ vote in the EU Referendum on 23rd June, and contribute to electoral successes for UKIP on 5th May.”
UPDATE II: UKIP hit back:
“A disciplinary panel constituted by the UKIP National Executive Committee today (23 March 2016) heard a complaint against Suzanne Evans that she had publicly criticised a fellow candidate in breach of the party rules and in terms which contravene the Party Constitution. The panel resolved to suspend her membership of the party for six months. The decision may be subject to appeal. Ms Evans sought an injunction in the High Court today to prevent the hearing, but this was unsuccessful. As a consequence of this, she will not now be nominated as a UKIP candidate in the London Assembly elections to be held on May 5th.”
Guido understands there a plans afoot in UKIP to suspend Suzanne Evans from the party. The party scheduled a disciplinary meeting this morning to discuss whether to take action against Evans over a series of claims involving alleged breaches of party rules. Court documents show that Evans is filing an application to the High Court at midday today to attempt to postpone any disciplinary action until after the GLA nominations are closed on March 31. In the explosive court documents, Suzanne writes that Nigel Farage is trying to force her out:
Evans makes a series of allegations against Arron Banks and Farage’s former aide Raheem Kassam:
She concludes:
The most explosive developments in the UKIP civil war yet…
UPDATE: UKIP confirm Suzanne Evans has been suspended for six months.
Farage’s revenge on Vote Leave-backing Suzanne Evans continues – last week hesacked her as deputy chair, today he’s sacked her as welfare spokesman. Last night Nigel told a Ladbrokes panel that Douglas Carswell is “irrelevant“, the second time in a week he has slagged off his only MP. How about focusing on the real enemy?
UPDATE: Suzanne tells Guido:
“I must be the most purged woman in British Politics! You have to laugh it’s so ridiculous.”
UPDATE II: Peter Reeve, UKIP’s local government spokesman and also a Vote Leave supporter, has also been sacked by Farage. He’s been replaced by porn scandal David Sprason, who signed up UKIP councillors to Grassroots Out.
Suzanne Evans is no longer UKIP’s deputy chairman. Farage says in a statement:
“I have made some changes to our structure today. Both of our Deputy Chairs are candidates in the upcoming elections and this will limit any role they can play in the national referendum campaign. So I thank Suzanne Evans and Neil Hamilton for their time as Deputy Chairs and announce they will be replaced by Diane James and William Dartmouth.”
Expect to hear from those involved that this is nothing to do with UKIP’s internal politics. Though allies of Farage say this is a putsch against Suzanne, long seen as a threat by the leader’s camp and a supporter of Vote Leave, not Nigel’s preferred Grassroots Out…
UPDATE: A Breitbartstory written by Farage’s former aide Raheem Kassam reveals the thinking at Grassroots Out – stripping Evans of the deputy chair role hurts Vote Leave’s bid for the designation:
“Ms. Evans no longer holding a position with the party is also problematic for the ‘Vote Leave’ campaign who have been trumpeting her support as their UKIP “cross party” backing. Now they are limited to one Member of Parliament, one Member of the European Parliament, and one member of the National Executive Committee.”
UPDATE II: Evans speaks:
“I’m naturally disappointed. I felt I was doing a good job and helping to broaden the party’s appeal both in relation to the EU referendum and the upcoming electoral challenges of May 5th and beyond.
I’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ for all the many messages of support I’ve had from UKIP members already today, but I certainly have no intention of being drawn into any disharmony. I of course accept that it is entirely within any party leader’s authority to choose and to change their own top team.”
“I have thrown my hat into the ring to apply to be UKIP candidate for Mayor of London and or an London assembly member. Let’s be realistic, I don’t think London is going to have a UKIP mayor any time soon. But I think it’s time for London to have a different view, a different approach. I think there are a growing amount of people in London who want to see things from a UKIP perspective.”
Also in the running for the UKIP nomination is Culture spokesman Peter Whittle, asrevealed by Guido last week.
Guido also hears that Richard Hendron, organiser of UKIP’s Gay Pride contingent, is also throwing his hat into the ring. Suzanne says she reckons she is Nige’s candidate…Suzanne Evans tells Iain Dale:
“There has been no purge,” sacked Suzanne Evans told Victoria Derbyshire this morning, insisting it is “a coincidence” that she, Patrick O’Flynn and Gobby have all since lost their jobs. Apparently we shouldn’t believe the “hostile media agenda” and “the […]
More from the seedier side of Ukip: Lisa Duffy, Ukip’s Farage String Puller & How Peter Reeve Got His Job Back
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THE UKIP STRING-PULLER – THE MYSTERIOUS LISA DUFFY
.. and how Peter Reeve got his job back
One of the downsides of being quite ‘high profile’ in the fight against Ukip is that we get targeted by Ukip and their allies, constantly. But one of the benefits is that we seem to be becoming the go-to people for when Ukip folks want to air their dirty linen in a rather public manner.
Because of the Byzantine-like manner in which Ukip is run (cliques, favourites, cronies, jobs for acolytes, etc) there is constant strife and confusion within the Party. People’s job titles do not reflect their roles or duties. Juniors and Assistants seem sometimes to have more authority than their bosses. EU-paid staffers do British Political work, while UK staffers / volunteers help in Europe. It’s a confusing mess.
And when individuals are selected for senior positions simply because they are the most subservient to Nigel, regardless of any skills or experience, this generates huge resentment among those who actually do their jobs very well but hold occasionally different policy ideas to Farage.
Which results in those passed-over staffers aiming to bring those ‘lackeys’ down to earth. By talking to us. We won’t complain about that.
Which brings us to Lisa Duffy and how she used her position to get her boyfriend his job back.
Duffy has long since kept very much under the radar. She’s earned her promotions by her loyalty to Nigel in every way. Her job title is “Party Director”, quite a step-up from working in TK Maxx. No-one apart from Farage has asked for her to be promoted or has been consulted about it.
Yet she is worryingly high-placed so someone so devoid of skills, experience, qualifications, or work ethic. (Her five main qualities were described by a Ukip insider as being ‘incompetence, dishonesty, arrogance, apathy and stupidity.’) As for work ethic, she had a less than 30% attendance record as a Councillor (2014), which is very #Ukip, and we believe this has actually fallen even further recently.
She is simply in place through her devotion to Nigel. And she is loyal.
So loyal, in fact, that she’ll not tolerate any dissent, even when justified. Thus she was instrumental in the removal of David Abbott, Martin Haslam and Eric Edmondfrom the Party – decent men who wanted UKIP to be open and democratic, who wanted Ukip to deal with internal corruption.
Her current role is organising election campaigning. Well, we all know how successful that’s been. At the General Election on 2015, Ukip’s expectation of ’40 seats’ (she suggested ‘between 10 and 15 MPs’) was reduced to the actuality of, er, 1.
And since then in local elections and by-election, Ukip’s vote share has more than halved.
Clearly she’s doing as good a job as she did when she lead Young Independence, the Ukip Youth Wing, from 2008 onwards. During that time the YI stagnated until she was removed – to be promoted.
Reeve has many roles (and many sources of income, of course) – County Councillor in Cambridgeshire, District Councillor in Huntingdonshire, Town Councillor in Ramsey; lots of opportunities for expenses, there.
Add to that his roles as Deputy Chairman of the Local Government Association and UKIP Local Government spokesman, and his work as assistant to a Ukip MEP, he’s a busy person, you’d think. But not really, as his contemporaries on each Council, and within Ukip, are of the opinion that he does’nt do any of his six jobs very well.
But when he was demoted from his role as UKIP Local Government spokesman,Duffy was said to be livid. And on March 9th he was mysteriously, without comment, quietly, reinstated.
We can give you the reason: We are reliably informed that Duffy complained to Farage on March 11th, who then instructed the Ukip NEC to reinstate him immediately. Such is her reward for her loyalty and merciless crushing of dissent.
As an aside, we’ve mentioned before the illegality of Ukip UK personnel being paid from EFDD funds for Political activities solely in the United Kingdom. Reeve and Duffy are both paid from EU funds yet their work is 100% in the UK.
Reeve and Duffy, once described as the Ukip ‘Power Couple’.
We think this state of affairs won’t last long; both Duffy and Reeve have made too many enemies, and simply been too greedy, for their own good. Only the influence of Farage keeps them in place, and his grip over the Ukip NEC appears to be a little less than it was. As their internal rivals grow, their time is limited.
As for Duffy’s long-held nickname – ‘Scruffy Duffy‘ – we cannot comment. It appears to be a reference to her lower-than-usual standard of personal hygiene. As one Ukip source commented;
Duffy and Reeve also want to keep their borderline-illegal but very lucrative activities in the family, but both seem to have lost any grip on reality by now: Duffy has stated that she wants her daughter, Jazmine, to be Ukip Party leader one day.
Well, in Ukip, anything is possible.
Especially if you bow low enough to the right man.
Nigel Farage’s Ukip Cult, Leave EU, Vote Leave & Grassroots Out Are Polls Apart & beyond the cranno rectally retentive bubble in which he functions the world at large appreciate Nigel Farage can not win but can loose this Referendum for Britain
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Posted by:
Greg Lance – Watkins
Greg_L-W
eMail: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com
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Hi,
Ukip’s Suzanne Evans: ‘It’s Best Not To Mention Nigel Farage’ During Anti-EU Campaigning
Oft-sacked Ukipper Suzanne Evans today praised a book which claims “it’s best not to mention” Nigel Farage when out campaigning to leave the European Union.
Ms Evans told a fringe event at the party’s Spring conference in Llandudno, North Wales, that the Ukip leader was as mistrusted over the EU issue as former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Referencing a book called “How Not To Talk About Europe” produced by think-tank British Future, the former party Deputy Chairman – who was sacked from the role earlier this week – stressed she was merely sharing “fact-based research” with those present.
Ms Evans offered to send audience members an electronic copy of the book, as well as selling copies at the event organised by Vote Leave – a rival group to the Farage-backed Grassroots Out organisation.
Both are vying for designation as the official Leave group ahead of the June 23 EU referendum.
Sitting on a platform with Ukip’s sole MP Douglas Carswell, she said: “[The book’s] poll found that the two least trusted voices on Europe are Tony Blair, which isn’t surprising, and also Nigel Farage.
“You might not like it, and I don’t like it either, but that is what the book says. They suggest you don’t put Ukip branding on campaign materials.”
Ms Evans added: “They say really even if you love Nigel Farage and you love Ukip, it’s best not mention it unless somebody else mentions it instead.”
Ms Evans went on to quote conclusions from the book which suggested campaigning solely on immigration in the EU referendum would not deliver victory for the Leave side.
The prominence that the issue of immigration should have in the Leave campaign is one of the main differences between Vote Leave – backed by Mr Carswell and Ms Evans – and Grassroots Out – supported by Mr Farage.
Ms Evans said there was a “purple ceiling” of around 15 to 20 per cent of the public who could be convinced to leave the EU purely over immigration concerns.
She said: “Outside of our particular bubble, what are the arguments that sway people? These are the people that we need to get hold of, it’s no good just preaching to the converted, how do we get on board those people who are yet to be convinced?
She added: “This book suggests that those people who are concerned about immigration have already mind their mind up, they are going to vote to leave.”
Ms Evans also cited claims in the book that the presence of the Ukip logo on campaign tools could turn people off from the Eurosceptic cause.
She said: “Ukip campaigners were handing out these bags as it was a great idea, but even people that wanted to leave the EU wouldn’t take the bags as they had Ukip on it.
“Now you might think that’s daft, but would you take a bag that had a Tory logo on it?”
Ms Evans was anointed by Mr Farage to succeed him as Ukip leader when he stood down following his failure to win a seat at last year’s General Election.
However, Mr Farage withdrew his resignation three days later, before Ms Evans could be officially installed as his successor.
She was subsequently stripped of her policy development role, and overlooked as Ukip’s candidate for Mayor of London ahead of the election in May.
Revisiting Neil Hamilton’s Clear Unsuitability For any Office & Nigel Farage’s self serving and insecure Duplicity!
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Hi,
after 20 years watching and paying attention to Ukip and having written something well over 3,000 blogs bringing people the facts and the truth, about Ukip behind the scenes, sometimes it is just too tedious to pull together yet another article about such a predictable bunch of self serving scoundrels and ne’r do wells as they squabble like ferretts in a sack.
We noted that Susanne Evans was unceremoniously dumped as deputy leader, it would seem this time that although it was undemocratic it did have two gains for Nigel Farage rather than his normal single fear of his ego being damaged by someone competent enough to challenge him!
This time it seems she was also dumped as it would reduce the possible claim that Vote Leave had cross party support – so now all Farage has to do is manage to find a way for one of his cronies to stab Douglas Carswell in the back and Farage would seem to think it will improve the chances of his two pronged efforts with Leave.EU and ‘Grassroots Out’ will have a better chance of getting theri hands on the Government money for the Referendum!
Meanwhile it would seem his efforts to unseat Neil Hamilton are proving something of a failure – I cautioned against Ukip having anything to do with the oleagenous and duplicitous self serving Hamilton’s before Farage brought him on board.
There is nothing new I can be bothered to write about the sordid publicity seeking pair so I shall cheat and use an article from elsewhere, to reitterate the many points I have flagged up in the past:
UKIP’s Welsh Meltdown
While much of the party’s energy is focused on the upcoming referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU, Nigel “Thirsty” Farage and his fellow saloon bar propper-uppers at UKIP also have local Government elections to fight, and the latter includes elections to the Welsh Assembly Government. Here, the Kippers face controversy over one potential candidate, former Tory MP Mostyn Neil Hamilton.
Hamilton claims to be “a proud Welshman”, and he did indeed grow up in the area around Carmarthen, before taking his first degree at Aberystwyth. But his Parliamentary career was as MP for Tatton, the constituency centred on the Cheshire town of Knutsford. He and wife Christine lived for many years at Nether Alderley, also in Cheshire, before moving to Wiltshire. His recent connection to Wales is therefore tenuous.
So the appearance of an anonymous leaflet passing severely adverse comment on Hamilton should not surprise anyone. Nor should any reference to his downfall at the 1997 General Election at the hands of independent candidate Martin Bell, in the wake of Hamilton’s collapsed libel action against theGuardian, over the claim of former Harrods boss Mohamed “you can call me Al” Fayed that Hamilton took “cash for questions”.
No-one should be surprised if UKIP members in Wales are reminded of the Guardian’s main headline the day after Hamilton’s legal capitulation: “A liar and a cheat”. Nor would it be any surprise to see his failed libel action against Fayed revisited, with the late George Carman QC describing Hamilton as “On the make, and on the take”. The cash for those questions was, according to Fayed, paid in used notes and in brown envelopes.
Hamilton has told of “This libellous leaflet recycled a Guardian newspaper cutting from 1996, falsely claiming I took large sums of money as an MP to ask parliamentary questions … The Inland Revenue dismissed these allegations as lies after their top forensic accountants (the Special Compliance Office) completed an exhaustive two-year investigation of all Christine’s and my financial affairs during ten tax years, 1987-97”.
But then, if money was paid in used notes and in brown envelopes, there would be nothing for the tax authorities to find. Indeed, Gordon Downey’s inquiry into the “cash for questions” affair found that the evidence Hamilton took cash from Fayed for asking questions “compelling”. One should also note that the Guardian article published after Hamilton’s libel action collapsed is still available online – and unaltered.
Neil Hamilton also misled Michael Heseltine over payments from lobbyist Ian Greer. He lobbied for the US tobacco industry. He joined the cause of the Apartheid régime in South Africa. He routinely failed to register payments and hospitality, including stays at the Hôtel Ritz in Paris. He stood accused of taking a £10,000 payment from Mobil Oil to table an amendment to the 1989 Finance Bill, while a member of a Commons select committee.
Neil Hamilton can protest all he likes at the actions of those in UKIP who are unhappy about his potential candidacy. But his record and reputation is there for all to see, as is his over-zealous recourse to libel actions, which left him with a £3 million bill and facing bankruptcy. He is a thoroughly unsavoury character and anyone in UKIP who seeks to bring this to a wider audience is to be commended.
He also had to drop out of the running for prospective candidate for the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency in December 2014 according to The Guardian due to a letter from the party’s finance and resources committee challenging some of his expenses claims.
From the same article “Senior figures in Ukip had previously worked hard to successfully prevent the former Conservative MP becoming a candidate in Boston and Skegness, and managed to prevent him from becoming an MEP.”
Have ambition to become MP will travel anywhere in the UK?
One wonders who is driving force here, NH or his wife Christine?
Three short sentences in the Guardian article sum up the arrogance and hubris of Mostyn Neil Hamilton perfectly:
“Another MP, Tim Smith, resigned his post as a Northern Ireland minister after he was accused in the same article of taking undeclared cash. He immediately admitted the Guardian story was true. Mr Hamilton, MP for Tatton, had instead tried to tough it out before resigning under pressure from Mr Major.”
To view the original of this article and the comments CLICK HERE
Here is the full front page Guardian article from 01-Oct-1996
A liar and a cheat
David Hencke, David Leigh and David Pallister
Tuesday 1 October 1996 11.43 BST Last modified on Tuesday 5 January 2016 23.08 GMT
Neil Hamilton, the disgraced former minister, yesterday walked away in humiliation from a £10 million libel suit against the Guardian over the “cash for questions” scandal hours before the case was due to start today.
The former trade minister abandoned the case and agreed to pay some of the Guardian’s costs after a bitter two-year battle. He had recruited 421 Conservative MPs and peers, including Lady Thatcher, Lord Archer and cabinet members to change a 300-year-old law, which had prevented him, as an MP, bringing his action.
Ian Greer, the parliamentary lobbyist, also dropped his claim, part of the same libel suit, just minutes before a legal deadline to do so. He, too, agreed to pay some of the paper’s costs.
The Guardian stated on October 20, 1994, that Mr Hamilton had received thousands of pounds for asking parliamentary questions for Mohamed Al Fayed’s Harrods group. Mr Greer, who had been retained by Mr Al Fayed, was identified as the middleman.
Another MP, Tim Smith, resigned his post as a Northern Ireland minister after he was accused in the same article of taking undeclared cash. He immediately admitted the Guardian story was true. Mr Hamilton, MP for Tatton, had instead tried to tough it out before resigning under pressure from Mr Major.
The settlement, on the eve of what was labelled the libel trial of the century, came after a dramatic weekend of legal developments. Those began when the government disclosed crucial documents to the Guardian. The papers led to Mr Greer and Mr Hamilton falling out, and a conflict of interest developing. Mr Greer’s accounts were also in the newspaper’s possession. The stories you need to read, in one handy email Read more
The Guardian also served on the men’s lawyers three statements from employees of Mr Al Fayed. They said Mr Hamilton and Mr Greer regularly called for envelopes stuffed with £50 notes in return for parliamentary lobbying.
Alan Rusbridger, editor of the Guardian, said: “The decision by Neil Hamilton and Ian Greer must be one of the most astonishing legal cave-ins in the history of the law of libel.”
He called for the trial papers to be examined by John Major, Sir Gordon Downey, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, and the Inland Revenue.
Although hampered by the law on what evidence it can publish, the Guardian today reveals the extent of Mr Hamilton’s covert links with Mr Greer. It also details the network of MPs linked to Mr Greer, including Mr Smith, Sir Michael Grylls, chairman of the backbench trade and industry committee, Sir Peter Hordern, MP for Horsham, and Sir Andrew Bowden, MP for Brighton Kemptown. Advertisement
It was because the Guardian had subpoenaed Mr Major and Michael Heseltine to give evidence in the case that the government handed over key documents to the newspaper’s lawyers, Geoffrey Robertson, QC, and Geraldine Proudler. It would have been the first time this century a serving prime minister had appeared in the libel courts.
The trial would have re-opened the vexed question of parliamentary sleaze during the Tory party conference, and only a year after the government had made strenuous efforts to bury the issue. It implemented the Nolan Committee report and appointed a new Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to handle complaints about MPs.
Of the embarrassing climb-down by both men, Mr Rusbridger said: “Both Hamilton and Greer knew that the evidence the Guardian had obtained would have blown their action out of the water and revealed a pattern of parliamentary sleaze more far reaching than anyone had ever imagined.
“The Guardian has never doubted the truth of its original story. We would have produced damning evidence of Mr Hamilton and Mr Greer’s lack of integrity if the case had proceeded. No doubt that is why they dropped the action.
“The Greer accounts and the government documents tell an outrageous story of corruption which the public should know but which we are prevented, for legal reasons, from publishing.”
Mr Hamilton said he was ‘devastated’ at having to withdraw. He claimed he was innocent, but because of the conflict of interest with Mr Greer, each had to instruct new solicitors and counsel. Advertisement
“The consequence of this is that the trial would have had to have been postponed to enable new sets of lawyers to go through the huge volume of papers and prepare the case afresh at enormously increased cost.”
His costs were already £150,000, and he did not have the cash to continue.
Mr Greer said: “I would want to continue on a matter of principle, but I have had to take a sensible commercial decision and I am happy a compromise has been reached.”
A spokesman for Mr Al Fayed said: “He was looking forward to telling the court of his experience of dealing with a number of Conservative MPs who describe themselves as “honourable members”. He will be sending his papers on the matter to Sir Gordon Downey.”
Downing Street last night insisted that the end of the libel action was purely a “matter between Mr Hamilton and the Guardian”.
Damning evidence
Sometimes he (Mr Greer) would ask me bluntly whether Mr Al Fayed had his money ready. Mr Hamilton was as persistent as Mr Greer, if not more so, in asking for his envelope.
Mohamed Al Fayed’s ex-personal assistant
I remember on several occasions that prior to a meeting with Mr Hamilton, Mr Al Fayed would make a remark… that he was coming to collect his money and would prepare an envelope for him with a bundle of £2,500 (in) notes in my presence.
Mr Al Fayed’s secretary
On at least two occasions when I was sitting at the front desk, an envelope was brought down to me from Mr Al Fayed’s office and I was informed that Mr Hamilton would be stopping by to collect the envelope.
Mr Al Fayed’s security man
Also there is the Guardian article of 22-Dec-1999:
A greedy, corrupt liar
Hamilton faces ruin after jury unanimously finds he took cash for questions
Hamilton, Al Fayed libel trial
Matt Wells, Jamie Wilson and David Pallister
Wednesday 22 December 1999 12.07 GMT Last modified on Monday 18 January 2016 14.27 GMT
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Shares 13 Save for later Neil Hamilton’s five-year fight to clear his name ended in ignominious defeat and financial ruin last night when a high court jury unanimously declared the former Conservative MP corrupt.
The result ended any hopes he may have harboured of resuming his political career, condemning him as a greedy man who had been “on the make and on the take” during his time in parliament.
The verdict, delivered in the highly-charged atmosphere of a crowded court 13 at the high court in London, was a dramatic finale to the bruising five-week libel trial brought by the former minister against the owner of Harrods, Mohamed Al Fayed. It brought to an end his protracted battle to clear his name of the cash-for-questions controversy first reported by the Guardian in 1994.
After almost nine hours of deliberation, the jury returned to court yesterday to deliver its verdict. Asked whether members had found “on the balance of probabilities” that Mr Fayed had established corruption by Mr Hamilton “on highly convincing evidence”, their forewoman replied: “Yes.”
Sitting in the front of the court, Mr Hamilton and his distraught wife, Christine, looked on with disbelief. She held her face in her hands and he repeatedly shook his head. As the jury filed out, the couple stared intensely at them and then retreated through the corridors of the court to consult with their lawyers.
As the Hamiltons continued to protest their innocence of corruption, outside the court Mr Fayed – who had been accused of being “the biggest crook in town” and a Jekyll and Hyde character – arrived jubilant. Bowing on the steps of the court, he wished everyone a merry Christmas. Of Mr Hamilton, he said: “He knows he is corrupt. People like that should never be in power.” The stories you need to read, in one handy email Read more
Mr Hamilton sued Mr Fayed over claims he made in a Dispatches documentary broadcast on Channel 4 in 1997 that the former MP had demanded and received thousands of pounds in cash, Harrods gift vouchers and hospitality at the Ritz hotel in Paris, in return for parliamentary services. Mr Fayed pleaded justification – that the allegations were true.
The clinching piece of evidence in the case – introduced on subpoena only days before the trial began – concerned Mr Hamilton’s claim that he had a legitimate consultancy with Mobil Oil in 1989.
It later emerged that he had done little more for the company than to table an amendment to that year’s finance bill, for which he later demanded payment. Under ancient parliamentary rules taking cash solely for parliamentary action is corrupt. Advertisement
Minutes before the jury said it was ready to deliver the verdict, its members were still divided: in a note to the judge, they asked whether they could disregard the adjective “highly” in the question put to them about convincing evidence. The judge refused their request.
Emerging from the court Mr Hamilton faced journalists with a grim smile.
With his wife beside him, he said: “I would never have embarked on this action had I been guilty of the charges against me. I do not regret bringing the case, of course, because I could not have gone through life without straining every sinew to do everything that was possible to bring the truth out. Sadly the jury were not convinced,” he said.
“The waters were muddied at the very beginning of the trial when, onto Mr Fayed’s allegations were clamped entirely unrelated ones connected to a consultancy I had with Mobil Oil. It may well be from the questions the jury asked the judge during the trial, that that is what has secured this verdict.”
Asked about the future, he simply said: “It is the beginning of a new road, I’m not sure where it leads but I will find out.”
For the first time his formidable wife, who has fiercely protected him since the allegations first broke, had no ready riposte. Asked how she had felt throughout the epic trial, she said: “I can’t tell you that now, but I will.”
Any hopes that Mr Hamilton may have harboured about a return to the political scene have now been utterly dashed. Conservative party chairman Michael Ancram was among the first to comment. “I have noted the verdict of the jury and I hope that this is the end of a sad and unpleasant episode which has been damaging to our party,” he said. Advertisement
“I trust that the personalities involved will now retire from the scene. They certainly can expect little understanding from this party if they do not.”
Alan Rusbridger, the editor of the Guardian, called for Mr Hamilton to make an apology to the newspaper over accusations he made against Guardian journalists.
“Neil Hamilton has now been found guilty by both Parliament and the courts,” he said. “Today’s verdict vindicates the Guardian’s reporting of this case. The jury has found that Neil Hamilton is corrupt.
“The Guardian’s reporting exposed the mire of MPs on the take in the mid to late eighties and led to the setting up of the Nolan Commission into standards in public life. Our original reporting has never been shaken despite the slurs of Mr Hamilton, his friends and his legal team. The Guardian never doubted the integrity of its journalists, who deserve an apology from Neil Hamilton.”
You will also note the degree of indebtedness of the Hamiltons who went spectacularly bankrupt dishonouring their debts to many to the tune of over £3M. CLICK HERE
Yet little or nothing is said of this despite the fact that a full on assault was made on Nikki Sinclaire over her discharged bankruptcy amounting to a few £1,000s over a propertyy deal which was eventually resolved and with the full knowledge of the party at the time!
I guess it all depend if Nigel Farage sees you as a threat to his snout in the troughs on the EU gravy train! Most clearly he saw Nikki Sinclaire as a threat as she clamoured for Ukip transparency and published her detailed accounts as an MEP whilst actively persuing efforts to expose EU corruption and obtain the signatures for her petition that eventually forced David Cameron to hold a debate in Parliament and then grant the promise of an IN OUT EU promise – activities Ukip has consistently failed to do in 23 years!
Desperate efforts and apparent conspiracies seem to have taken place to set up and damage Nikki Sinclaire and her anti EU activities, yet Nigel Farage welcomed Neil Hamilton with open arms – I guess the affinity may have something to do with ‘Birds of a feather …..’ whilst the attacks on Sinclaire may well be based on a genuine fear of exposure and the truth!
.
Regards,
Greg_L-W.
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tel: 44 (0)1594 – 528 337
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LOST CONFIDENCE: Councillor Richard Barrett has resigned from UKIP. Picture: Jerome Ellerby
Richard Barrett caused an upset in the 2014 council elections when he ousted long-serving Labour councillor and former Lord Mayor David Gemmell in the city’s Southcoates East ward.
Today, he formally resigned as a UKIP member saying he had “no confidence” in Nigel Farage’s party.
He also claimed some members had been unfairly bullied by other colleagues. He now plans to join the Labour Party.
Cllr Barrett said he had been mulling over his future with UKIP for several months.
“For too long I have seen too much negativity within the party and I have lost confidence in their approach towards serving the general public and their needs,” he said.
“The national approach is totally focused on the European referendum and not on their constituents.
“I am not going to give a blow by blow account of recent events with UKIP, needless to say I have no confidence in the party anymore.
“I have friends within UKIP so this will come as a bitter blow to them and I hope they can come to terms with it in time.
“There will be mixed emotions for the voters out there who voted for me and I have this message for them – I am still in office for the next two years and I am not going anywhere.
“No matter what your political preference, my door is always open to serve people in the ward as I was proudly elected to do so.”
Cllr Barrett said he was hopeful that his application to join Labour would be accepted.
His party membership application would have to be approved before there was any possibility of him joining the ruling Labour group at the Guildhall.
He said: “I understand there may be some mixed feelings within the Labour group but I hope they can see I have done enough as a dedicated councillor for the ward and the residents within it.
“I would like to thank my family for their full support during this testing time.”
‘Difficult to fit everything in’
Councillor Richard Barrett has shrugged off criticism over his poor attendance record at full council meetings.
He has missed several meetings in recent months.
He said: “I missed one because of a bereavement and another because I was ill.
“I also work full-time so it is difficult sometimes to fit everything in.
“I do try to concentrate on my ward work and I would like to thank my ward colleague Tom McVie, who I have worked with for the past two years without any disagreement.
“It’s a great pity he is standing down at the next election in May.”
Ukip after detailed & extensive deliberation: Deliberately Stood Racists, homophobes & criminals as electoral candidates for both MP positions & as councillors!
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Posted by:
Greg Lance – Watkins
Greg_L-W
eMail: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com
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Hi,
Ukip allowed criminals and racists stand as election candidates
Internal records have revealed candidates were allowed to run as candidates despite expressing or supporting racist, homophobic and sexist views
Nigel Farage, Ukip leaderPhoto: Clara Molden for the Telegraph
Ukip have been accused of knowingly permitting a number of criminals, racists and homophobes to stand as candidates in the last general election.
Nigel Farage’s party was reportedly aware of at least 14 of its candidates who had committed grievous bodily harm and were guilty of assult.
Internal records have revealed a further 23 candidates expressed or supported racist, homophobic, Islamophobic or sexist views.
Ukip supporters Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
The Times reports that whilst most of the potential candidates were initially dismissed, a number successfully appealed the decision and were allowed to run as councillors and MPs.
The reports shwo that one candiate was allowe dto run, despite the Party being made aware that they had described the Prophet Muhammad as a “criminal psychopath” and supported the English Defence League.
Another described an online picture of two people posing with monkeys as an “arranged interracial marriage”.
Nigel Farage, the leader of UKIP Photo: Reuters
Despite sharing far-right videos on social media and speaking at “gay-cure” events, eleven candidates were allowed to stand as MPs.
In 2014 David Soutter was taken on as head of candidates and was responsible for vetting prospective politicians for the party.
However, The Times has seen evidence that of the 200 candidates who were initially blocked by Mr Soutter’s team; at least 115 were able to convince Mr Soutter that they should run.
Patrick O’Flynn, UKIP Economic spokesman and UKIP Deputy Chairman Suzanne Evans speak to the media during a UKIP policy briefing in London Photo: EPA/ANDY RAIN
A Ukip spokesman said: “Our candidates team looked at thousands of candidates last year and generally associations such as this would raise a red flag.
“Discretion was held by the then head of candidates, Mr Soutter.”
To view the original of this article But The Telegraph or CLICK HERE
Ukip knowingly allowed dozens of racists, homophobes and violent criminals to stand as prospective MPs and councillors at the last election, The Times can reveal.
The Eurosceptic party was aware that at least 14 of its candidates last May had violent pasts, including three who were guilty of assault and two who had committed grievous bodily harm. It allowed them to run anyway.
Ukip’s internal records show that at least a further 23 expressed or supported racist, homophobic, Islamophobic or sexist views either online or offline. One was a supporter of the far-right English Defence League and stated that the Prophet Muhammad was a “criminal psychopath”, while another described an online picture of two people posing with monkeys as an “arranged interracial marriage”.
Eleven candidates were allowed to stand as MPs despite infractions that included posting far-right videos on Facebook, speaking at “gay-cure” events, or common assault. Two prospective Ukip councillors admitted committing grievous bodily harm.
In most cases candidates were initially blocked from standing but successfully appealed, often with the backing of senior Ukip officials. A party spokesman admitted last night that the names should have raised a “red flag”.
The disclosure comes as leaked internal documents reveal that: • Ukip came perilously close to bankruptcy last year, with an individual MEP stepping in to pay for an event after the party was threatened with legal action.
• The party handed over its membership database to a donor who is running the Leave.EU campaign. • Party members who applied for selection included drug dealers, a sex offender and a convicted murderer.
The party secured almost four million votes in the general election and is campaigning for an “out” vote in the referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, expected to take place in June. If it maintains the support seen last year David Cameron’s task of winning the referendum and remaining prime minister will be more difficult.
In the run up to the last election Ukip set out to professionalise its vetting process after scandals involving candidates making offensive comments in interviews or on social media. It hired David Soutter as head of candidates in 2014. Mr Soutter is a former chief of staff to Robert Kilroy-Silk, the television presenter turned politician.
Mr Soutter and a team of staff were responsible for vetting thousands of prospective councillors and MPs. Candidates were required to declare criminal convictions, comments made publicly that could embarrass the party and membership of any other political party or pressure group. They were asked to hand over their login details for any Facebook and Twitter accounts.
The Times has seen evidence relating to more than 200 candidates who were blocked by Mr Soutter’s team when they applied to stand for the party. Of these 128 challenged their rejection and at least 115 convinced Mr Soutter that they should run, including 11 parliamentary candidates and four who were elected as councillors.
John Langley, 60, a porn industry veteran, was allowed to stand for Ukip in Bristol’s local elections even though he was convicted of assaulting his 13-year-old stepson in 1986 and placed on a permanent child-harm register.
Steve Beatty, 48, who stood unsuccessfully for South Oxfordshire district council, was approved by Ukip despite “multiple English Defence League and Britain First posts” on Facebook. Mr Beatty told The Times that Ukip asked him to remove the posts and state that he did not agree with the policies of either group and that he was “completely intolerant of racist views”.
Richard King, 55, a prospective parliamentary candidate for Finchley and Golders Green, was noted in the Ukip documents as having “posted video [of] Britain First on his Facebook”. Mr King said last night that he did not subscribe to Britain First and could not recall posting the video.
Two Ukip parliamentary candidates had been convicted of common assault, according to the party’s records. Three prospective councillors had convictions for breaking and entering, blackmail and harassment. One councillor committed grievous bodily harm in 1990 when employed as a bouncer. One was convicted in 2000 for wounding and grievous bodily harm.
A Ukip spokesman said: “Our candidates team looked at thousands of candidates last year and generally associations such as this would raise a red flag. Discretion was held by the then head of candidates, Mr Soutter.”
As The Times hides even its advertising behind a pay wall – I am spared all those travel ads etc. I also rarely read The Times and no longer buy cp[ies – I used to buy The Times at least 4 times a week, as a result of items I had read on line!
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Regards,
Greg_L-W..
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