This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/19/nigel-farage-accused-of-turning-his-back-on-ukips-flagship-council

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Nigel Farage accused of turning his back on Ukip's flagship council Nigel Farage accused of turning his back on Ukip's flagship council
(about 9 hours later)
The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, has been accused of turning his back on the turmoil at the only council controlled by the party, where a split has resulted in it losing its majority after less than five months in charge.The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, has been accused of turning his back on the turmoil at the only council controlled by the party, where a split has resulted in it losing its majority after less than five months in charge.
Thanet district council had been viewed as a “prototype” for Ukip’s ambitions to make major inroads into local government. It swept to victory there the day after Farage’s hopes of becoming an MP in the same east Kent area were dashed in May’s general election.Thanet district council had been viewed as a “prototype” for Ukip’s ambitions to make major inroads into local government. It swept to victory there the day after Farage’s hopes of becoming an MP in the same east Kent area were dashed in May’s general election.
But the party is now facing a crisis in the council, which includes the towns of Margate and Ramsgate, after five members split off from the Ukip group in a row over the failure to deliver on a key election pledge to reopen the district’s Manston airport.But the party is now facing a crisis in the council, which includes the towns of Margate and Ramsgate, after five members split off from the Ukip group in a row over the failure to deliver on a key election pledge to reopen the district’s Manston airport.
One of the former Ukip councillors, Helen Smith, told the Guardian: “Nigel has been focused on his referendum and doesn’t want anything to upset it, and you can understand that from one perspective.One of the former Ukip councillors, Helen Smith, told the Guardian: “Nigel has been focused on his referendum and doesn’t want anything to upset it, and you can understand that from one perspective.
“But since the elections, wouldn’t you have thought the party leader, whose troops created the first ever Ukip-led council in this landslide takeover at Thanet, would have been down here supporting us, backing us?”“But since the elections, wouldn’t you have thought the party leader, whose troops created the first ever Ukip-led council in this landslide takeover at Thanet, would have been down here supporting us, backing us?”
Farage has issued a statement in support of the council leader, Chris Wells. But Smith says that Farage has not visited Thanet since the election. “Nothing, absolutely nothing. Everybody was talking about it within Ukip: ‘Where’s Nigel? Why hasn’t Nigel been down?’”Farage has issued a statement in support of the council leader, Chris Wells. But Smith says that Farage has not visited Thanet since the election. “Nothing, absolutely nothing. Everybody was talking about it within Ukip: ‘Where’s Nigel? Why hasn’t Nigel been down?’”
Recriminations within Thanet’s governing Ukip group were sparked when Smith was dismissed from the council’s cabinet by Wells, who said she had struggled to separate her new responsibilities from campaigning interests regarding Manston airport.Recriminations within Thanet’s governing Ukip group were sparked when Smith was dismissed from the council’s cabinet by Wells, who said she had struggled to separate her new responsibilities from campaigning interests regarding Manston airport.
Wells has taken up the reins in long-running negotiations with a US investment firm, RiverOak, which is offering to partner with Thanet to buy and run the airport in the event of the local authority serving a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the site’s current owners.Wells has taken up the reins in long-running negotiations with a US investment firm, RiverOak, which is offering to partner with Thanet to buy and run the airport in the event of the local authority serving a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the site’s current owners.
However, the talks have turned increasingly sour, with RiverOak accusing Wells of inexplicably stalling the process.However, the talks have turned increasingly sour, with RiverOak accusing Wells of inexplicably stalling the process.
The firm’s chief executive, George Yerrall, said: “We were given direct assurances from senior Ukip politicians that this was something that they were going to proceed with. We were surprised when these problems arose.The firm’s chief executive, George Yerrall, said: “We were given direct assurances from senior Ukip politicians that this was something that they were going to proceed with. We were surprised when these problems arose.
“South-east London is short of runway space. This is a giant runway that is not being used and represents an opportunity to create sustainable jobs.”“South-east London is short of runway space. This is a giant runway that is not being used and represents an opportunity to create sustainable jobs.”
RiverOak, which is in contact with the splinter group from Ukip, adds that it is not going away and is prepared to work with the “leaders” of the council.RiverOak, which is in contact with the splinter group from Ukip, adds that it is not going away and is prepared to work with the “leaders” of the council.
Wells said he was constrained by what he could reveal but promised that his approach to the negotiations would be vindicated by material scheduled to come into the public domain. He accused RiverOak of whipping up a demand for “regime change” at the council by suggesting that he needed to be removed as its head.Wells said he was constrained by what he could reveal but promised that his approach to the negotiations would be vindicated by material scheduled to come into the public domain. He accused RiverOak of whipping up a demand for “regime change” at the council by suggesting that he needed to be removed as its head.
He said: “Here you actually have an American investment company who is straining to step up to the mark to provide the information that you need to work with them, who are openly campaigning to overturn the democratically elected institution they want to work with. You couldn’t make it up.”He said: “Here you actually have an American investment company who is straining to step up to the mark to provide the information that you need to work with them, who are openly campaigning to overturn the democratically elected institution they want to work with. You couldn’t make it up.”
Wells, who insists that the Ukip group has drawn together more tightly since the departure of the five, who have set up their own group of independents.Wells, who insists that the Ukip group has drawn together more tightly since the departure of the five, who have set up their own group of independents.
UKIP said that Farage has been to Thanet twice in the last month and is in daily contact with Wells as well as other UKIP Thanet Councillors.
Farage issued a statement supporting Wells. He said that Ukip had won the council on a ticket of doing what was possible to get Manston reopened. “At every stage Chris has sought appropriate legal advice, and the necessary guarantees to protect the council-taxpayers of Thanet,” said Farage.Farage issued a statement supporting Wells. He said that Ukip had won the council on a ticket of doing what was possible to get Manston reopened. “At every stage Chris has sought appropriate legal advice, and the necessary guarantees to protect the council-taxpayers of Thanet,” said Farage.
“Never before in my political career have I seen the kind of lobbying which has been indulged in during this process...Some of the lobbying appears less than honest and much of it vicarious.”“Never before in my political career have I seen the kind of lobbying which has been indulged in during this process...Some of the lobbying appears less than honest and much of it vicarious.”