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UKIP in Scotland rejects claim of vote 'stitch-up' | UKIP in Scotland rejects claim of vote 'stitch-up' |
(about 14 hours later) | |
UKIP in Scotland has defended its procedures for selecting Scottish parliamentary candidates as being "democratically accountable". | UKIP in Scotland has defended its procedures for selecting Scottish parliamentary candidates as being "democratically accountable". |
It followed criticism from Euan Blockley, who had expected to top one of the UKIP regional lists for Holyrood in May. | It followed criticism from Euan Blockley, who had expected to top one of the UKIP regional lists for Holyrood in May. |
Mr Blockley has alleged that the process was "stitched up" by the party leadership to favour their friends. | Mr Blockley has alleged that the process was "stitched up" by the party leadership to favour their friends. |
He told BBC Scotland that he has left the party as a result. | He told BBC Scotland that he has left the party as a result. |
At 18 years old, Mr Blockley would have been one of the youngest candidates standing in the election. | At 18 years old, Mr Blockley would have been one of the youngest candidates standing in the election. |
He said: "I've ripped up my party's membership card. The party has 'stitched up' the party lists - and it goes all the way to David Coburn - the NEC etc - giving list places to their cronies. | |
"It was meant to be a democratic process, when the lists would be chosen by the party members - that's what we were promised." | |
Although he believes he would have been placed second on a regional list, Mr Blockley said he was horrified by the way UKIP in Scotland carried out the process. | |
He added: "It's a country club - all the placements are being handed out to friends - at the expense of good candidates." | |
UKIP has insisted the selection of candidates was carried out properly. | UKIP has insisted the selection of candidates was carried out properly. |
Scottish leader David Coburn said: "The final pool of candidates and their position on any list is agreed by a ballot of the party's National Executive Committee. | Scottish leader David Coburn said: "The final pool of candidates and their position on any list is agreed by a ballot of the party's National Executive Committee. |
"The NEC is elected by the party membership and is therefore democratically accountable to the party membership." | "The NEC is elected by the party membership and is therefore democratically accountable to the party membership." |
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