Mr Woolfe claimed that “technical” issues with the party’s system caused the problem, which meant he missed the noon deadline on Sunday by 17 minutes.
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But this afternoon his name was on an official list of applicants which will go before the party’s ruling national executive committee tomorrow, alongside six others, for a final decision over eligibility.
The party’s immigration policy chief Steven Woolfe is front-runner to take over, but councillor Lisa Duffy and MEPs Bill Etheridge and Jonathan Arnott have also been pushing for the crown.
There have been signs that some within Ukip were keen to see off Woolfe’s candidacy before the competition had got off the ground, after leaked emails revealed questions had been raised over his membership status.
“My two years as local elections co-ordinator, and six as the party’s general secretary, have given me an intimate understanding of the internal workings of UKIP and I propose constitutional reform that will achieve a dynamic, democratic party where the views of grassroots members and branches have greater input”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning (Monday, August 1): “I did feel like I was in a scene from Little Britain’s “computer says no” but at 11.35 yesterday I managed to be on the phone with my bank to prove that the £5,000 had been transferred over”.
There are also claims he allowed his membership to lapse in March 2014, which could throw another spanner into the works, although the issue is still being ironed out by UKIP officers today.
Asked about his prior conviction, Mr Woolfe told Huffington Post: “I made a foolish mistake 14 years ago which I regret”.
Mr Woolfe and Ukip could not be reached for immediate comment.
“He informed them that he was having technical problems. These were finally resolved and the paperwork submitted”, the spokesman said.
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Oh dear. Although the Tories have recently undergone a leadership election and Labour are in the midst of one, it’s Ukip’s leadership contest that is shaping up to be the most shambolic. The new Ukip leader will be announced at its conference on September 15 in Bournemouth.
