Even if he somehow makes it into office, either by bursting back into the race or starting a new grouping, he is unlikely to enjoy the strength and authority within the party that Farage did (the former leader’s hold over UKIP was near-total despite his lack of electoral success in the United Kingdom parliament.) Beleaguered by a lack of name recognition and bogged down by in-fighting, any victorious UKIP candidate is likely to find themselves unable to effectively engage with the politically-disengaged voters they need.
Advertisement
They accuse members of putting “personal ambitions, loyalties and jealousies at the heart of their decision making” and accuse the committee of “wilfully obstructing” Steven Woolfe’s candidacy. And it emerged he had not declared a spent drink driving conviction when seeking election as a police and crime commissioner in apparent contravention of electoral rules.
But enraged Woolfe supporters on the panel said the issue was irrelevant – and one, Victoria Ayling, blamed a “coup” by fellow member Douglas Carswell.
“We have witnessed an escalating megalomania that is detrimental to the functioning of the party”.
“Steven Woolfe is a popular candidate among UKIP’s members and should be permitted to represent those that wish to vote for him”, they said.
“Over the course of this leadership election, the NEC has proven it is not fit for goal and it confirmed many members’ fears that it is neither effective nor professional in the way it governs the party”.
“It must not be right that a handful individuals entrusted with the oversight of good governance and accountability on behalf of the membership can accord themselves absolute power over the running of the UK’s third largest political party”.
A week is a long time in politics of course, and a year an eternity, and yesterday Ms.James announced that she would be standing with the following statement: “I will lead Ukip to ensure that we have a laser focus on how the government is implementing its “Brexit means Brexit” promises, so that we can control both our own borders and negotiate quality bi-lateral trade deals”. After providing evidence of the payments and donations I have made to the party, they were satisfied this was not an issue. The NEC deny this is the fault of the UKIP system.
However, the decision was not unanimous, and three members of the NEC resigned in the wake of Mr Woolfe’s exclusion. “We will launch the paperwork tomorrow”, Banks tweeted.
Alongside Mr Etheridge the other confirmed candidates include deputy chair of UKIP’s Lambeth branch Elizabeth Jones, MEP Jonathan Arnott, activist Liz Duffy and former general election candidate Phillip Broughton.
James, a UKIP MEP and justice and home affairs spokeswoman, shot to the top of the bookmakers’ odds on Tuesday.
“I will be calling for the government to close British Islamic-faith schools”.
Advertisement
“I am committed to taking on all-comers and will go forward, positively, and present my vision for a reformed, professionalised and united UKIP”, he said.
