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 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/31/ukip-leadership-favourite-steven-woolfe-legal-action-excluded

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Favourite for Ukip leader Steven Woolfe may take legal action if excluded Favourite for Ukip leader Steven Woolfe misses application deadline
(35 minutes later)
Steven Woolfe, the Ukip leadership favourite, could take legal action if he is excluded from the contest over allegations he allowed his membership to lapse. Steven Woolfe, the favourite to succeed Nigel Farage as Ukip leader, could be out of the race after he missed the deadline for submitting his application by 17 minutes due to technical problems.
The MEP and migration spokesman for the party is one of five Ukip politicians to put their names forward to succeed Nigel Farage so far, with nominations closing on Sunday. A spokesman for the MEP and migration spokesman insisted he was still a candidate, but the party has not yet confirmed whether the delay will make him ineligible.
Woolfe is the frontrunner with bookmakers and has the backing of the influential Ukip donor Arron Banks, who is close to Farage. Woolfe was already under threat of being excluded from the contest over allegations he allowed his membership to lapse for more than a year. It is understood he may be prepared to take legal action if he is excluded from the race in which he is seen as the frontrunner, with the backing of influential Ukip donor Arron Banks, who is close to Farage.
The other four candidates are Lisa Duffy, a party organiser and chief of staff to Patrick O’Flynn; Jonathan Arnott, a former party general secretary who is MEP for North East England; Bill Etheridge, the West Midlands MEP; and Liz Jones, Ukip’s deputy chair in Lambeth, south London. A spokesman for Woolfe said: “Steven Woolfe remains a candidate in the Ukip leadership contest. He submitted his application form at 11.35am this morning, in advance of the midday deadline. However, due to technical problems on the party system, it did not successfully go through until 12.17pm. Mr Woolfe was speaking to party officials responsible for handling the application process throughout this time and right up to the deadline. He informed them that he was having technical problems. These problems were finally resolved and the paperwork submitted.”
Leaked emails have revealed that Woolfe faces an attempt to stop him getting on the ballot over questions about whether his membership lapsed for 15 months, which could disqualify him even though he is an MEP. The MEP was one of five Ukip politicians to put their names forward to succeed Farage so far, with nominations closing at midday on Sunday. The other four candidates are Lisa Duffy, a party organiser and chief of staff to Patrick O’Flynn; Jonathan Arnott, a former party general secretary who is MEP for North East England; Bill Etheridge, the West Midlands MEP; and Liz Jones, Ukip’s deputy chair in Lambeth, south London.
There are signs that some within Ukip are keen to see off his candidacy before the competition has even got off the ground, after leaked emails revealed questions over Woolfe’s membership status.
Related: How do you top Brexit? Ukip starts search for a new role and new leaderRelated: How do you top Brexit? Ukip starts search for a new role and new leader
Other senior Ukip figures, including Banks and the former Tory MP Mark Reckless, have been counted out of the competition because of the requirement that they have to have been members for some years. Other senior Ukip figures, including Banks and the former Tory MP Mark Reckless, have been counted out of the competition because of the requirement they have to have been members for five years.
Woolfe’s fate will be decided by a three-person panel of Ukip’s national executive committee (NEC) on Tuesday. It is understood he may consider legal action if he is deemed ineligible to stand. Woolfe’s fate may now decided by a three-person panel of Ukip’s national executive committee on Tuesday.
The leadership contest was triggered when Farage stepped down after the EU referendum, but there has been persistent speculation that he could harbour ambitions to return. The leadership contest was triggered when Farage stepped down after the EU referendum, although there has been persistent speculation that he could harbour ambitions to return.
He reversed his decision to resign after the 2015 general election having previously taken time out during the leadership of Lord Pearson. He reversed his decision to resign after the 2015 general election having previously taken time out during the leadership of Malcolm Pearson.
The Huffington Post reported on Friday that Ukip’s deputy treasurer, Peter Jewell, was seeking 50 signatures to run as a candidate, as “Nigel and others” had asked him to throw his hat into the ring in order to “hold the fort for a while”.The Huffington Post reported on Friday that Ukip’s deputy treasurer, Peter Jewell, was seeking 50 signatures to run as a candidate, as “Nigel and others” had asked him to throw his hat into the ring in order to “hold the fort for a while”.
Steve Crowther, the party’s outgoing chairman, has said any attempt to exclude Woolfe from the contest would be ludicrous and could put the party in severe jeopardy.Steve Crowther, the party’s outgoing chairman, has said any attempt to exclude Woolfe from the contest would be ludicrous and could put the party in severe jeopardy.
Woolfe, who frequently highlights his childhood on a Manchester council estate and his mixed race heritage, told the Guardian last week that he wanted to put social mobility at the heart of his campaign. He claimed this could be achieved in part by introducing grammar schools in 50 of the poorest areas of the UK. Woolfe, who frequently highlights his childhood on a Manchester council estate and his mixed-race heritage, told the Guardian last week that he wanted to put social mobility at the heart of his campaign. He claimed this could be achieved in part by introducing grammar schools in 50 of the poorest areas of the UK. He also urged the party to stop engaging in the “politics of the sixth form college”.
He also urged the party to stop engaging in the “politics of the sixth form college”.
As the nominations closed, Channel 4’s Michael Crick reported that Woolfe had failed to make the ballot but because his nomination papers were submitted late, rather than any issue with his membership.
The Guardian could not immediately reach Woolfe or Ukip for comment.