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Steven Woolfe camp fears Ukip 'coup' to exclude their candidate Steven Woolfe camp fears Ukip 'coup' to exclude their candidate
(about 1 hour later)
Allies of Steven Woolfe believe he is to be excluded from the Ukip leadership race, claiming a “coup” attempt has been made against the former favourite. Allies of Steven Woolfe believe he is to be excluded from the Ukip leadership contest, claiming a coup attempt has been made against the former favourite.
Ukip will announce its list of candidates to succeed Nigel Farage as party leader on Wednesday at noon, after the party’s ruling committee met to assess the candidates. Ukip will announce its list of candidates to succeed Nigel Farage as leader on Wednesday at noon, after the party’s ruling committee met to assess the candidates.
Woolfe, who has the backing of Ukip donor and Farage ally Arron Banks, saw his leadership hopes fade after a series of leaks from the party suggesting that his membership was allowed to lapse, he submitted his application 17 minutes late and he forgot to disclose a spent drink driving conviction when running to be a police and crime commissioner. Woolfe, who has the backing of Ukip donor and Farage ally Arron Banks, saw his leadership hopes fade after a series of leaks from the party suggesting his membership was allowed to lapse, he submitted his application 17 minutes late and he forgot to disclose a spent drink-driving conviction when running to be a police and crime commissioner.
His supporters in Ukip, including Banks and Victoria Ayling, a member of the national executive committee, said they believed there was a coup under way by people linked to Ukip MP Douglas Carswell and Welsh assembly member Neil Hamilton.His supporters in Ukip, including Banks and Victoria Ayling, a member of the national executive committee, said they believed there was a coup under way by people linked to Ukip MP Douglas Carswell and Welsh assembly member Neil Hamilton.
Banks said it was the “last straw” and he would try to convene an extraordinary general meeting to change the working of the NEC and professionalise the party.Banks said it was the “last straw” and he would try to convene an extraordinary general meeting to change the working of the NEC and professionalise the party.
Another ally of Farage, Raheem Kassam, his former chief of staff, said there would battle with those conspiring against Woolfe if he was excluded from the ballot. Another ally of Farage, Raheem Kassam, his former chief of staff, said there would be a battle with those conspiring against Woolfe if he was excluded from the ballot.
He wrote on his Facebook page this week: “If Steven Woolfe is kept off the ballot for spurious reasons, I will declare full-scale war on Ukip, using all the assets and sources at my disposal to topple the Tory establishment that is trying to take over the party. That’s a warning and a promise.”He wrote on his Facebook page this week: “If Steven Woolfe is kept off the ballot for spurious reasons, I will declare full-scale war on Ukip, using all the assets and sources at my disposal to topple the Tory establishment that is trying to take over the party. That’s a warning and a promise.”
Woolfe’s spokesman could not be reached for comment or to confirm whether he had been officially excluded.Woolfe’s spokesman could not be reached for comment or to confirm whether he had been officially excluded.
Diane James, a Ukip MEP, has become the new favourite after Woolfe’s campaign appeared to sink. James, the justice and home affairs spokeswoman, has not formally declared she has applied but shot to the top of the bookmakers’ odds on Tuesday.Diane James, a Ukip MEP, has become the new favourite after Woolfe’s campaign appeared to sink. James, the justice and home affairs spokeswoman, has not formally declared she has applied but shot to the top of the bookmakers’ odds on Tuesday.
Among the other candidates in a crowded field, James has the most frontline political experience and came close to winning the Hampshire seat of Eastleigh for Ukip in a byelection against the Lib Dems in 2013.Among the other candidates in a crowded field, James has the most frontline political experience and came close to winning the Hampshire seat of Eastleigh for Ukip in a byelection against the Lib Dems in 2013.
The leadership contest was triggered after Farage decided to stand down after the EU referendum, saying he had done his bit for the party. Although Ukip failed to win more than one seat at the election, it secured about 4 million votes and came top in the European parliamentary elections the year before.The leadership contest was triggered after Farage decided to stand down after the EU referendum, saying he had done his bit for the party. Although Ukip failed to win more than one seat at the election, it secured about 4 million votes and came top in the European parliamentary elections the year before.
Without declaring she was a candidate, James tweeted on Monday: “Some talk of making @UKIP more ‘professional’. I want the next leader to make it so we can win seats locally and in Westminster #WinningisKey.”Without declaring she was a candidate, James tweeted on Monday: “Some talk of making @UKIP more ‘professional’. I want the next leader to make it so we can win seats locally and in Westminster #WinningisKey.”
She has a reputation as a competent speaker and media performer but has occasionally made gaffes. During the Eastleigh byelection, she claimed new migration from Romania was a problem because of the “crime associated with Romanians”. She later apologised, saying she had not meant her comments to be a “generalisation against every single individual born with a Romanian passport”.She has a reputation as a competent speaker and media performer but has occasionally made gaffes. During the Eastleigh byelection, she claimed new migration from Romania was a problem because of the “crime associated with Romanians”. She later apologised, saying she had not meant her comments to be a “generalisation against every single individual born with a Romanian passport”.
Last year, she praised the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, for his “nationalist” leadership, saying: “I admire him from the point of view that he’s standing up for his country. He’s very nationalist. I do admire him. He is a very strong leader.”Last year, she praised the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, for his “nationalist” leadership, saying: “I admire him from the point of view that he’s standing up for his country. He’s very nationalist. I do admire him. He is a very strong leader.”
The other candidates are known to include Lisa Duffy, a key party organiser, MEPs Jonathan Arnott and Bill Etheridge, as well as Phil Broughton, a former parliamentary candidate, and Liz Jones, the deputy chair of Ukip Lambeth.The other candidates are known to include Lisa Duffy, a key party organiser, MEPs Jonathan Arnott and Bill Etheridge, as well as Phil Broughton, a former parliamentary candidate, and Liz Jones, the deputy chair of Ukip Lambeth.
Duffy has launched her leadership campaign, claiming she wanted a “modernised version of British Islam”. She also told the Express she wanted a total ban on Muslim schools. “I will be calling for the government to close British Islamic faith schools,” she said. “That doesn’t mean I am picking on British Islam, but if you think about what our security services are looking at – 2,000 individuals that have come from those faith schools – when does indoctrination start?”Duffy has launched her leadership campaign, claiming she wanted a “modernised version of British Islam”. She also told the Express she wanted a total ban on Muslim schools. “I will be calling for the government to close British Islamic faith schools,” she said. “That doesn’t mean I am picking on British Islam, but if you think about what our security services are looking at – 2,000 individuals that have come from those faith schools – when does indoctrination start?”
She continued: “If the same thing was coming from Christian schools or Jewish schools we would take the same approach but we have to understand radicalisation is coming from somewhere.”She continued: “If the same thing was coming from Christian schools or Jewish schools we would take the same approach but we have to understand radicalisation is coming from somewhere.”
Etheridge, an MEP, is one of the more controversial candidates, after he was caught on film suggesting that young activists copy Hitler’s “magnetic and forceful” manner of public speaking. He also wrote a book celebrating golliwogs after he was ­suspended by the Conservatives in 2011 over a Facebook picture holding one of the toys to make a point about political correctness.Etheridge, an MEP, is one of the more controversial candidates, after he was caught on film suggesting that young activists copy Hitler’s “magnetic and forceful” manner of public speaking. He also wrote a book celebrating golliwogs after he was ­suspended by the Conservatives in 2011 over a Facebook picture holding one of the toys to make a point about political correctness.
Arnott is also an MEP, a former general secretary of Ukip and keen chess player, while Jones is perhaps best known for an appearance on live radio in 2014, shouting at a fellow guest to shut up.Arnott is also an MEP, a former general secretary of Ukip and keen chess player, while Jones is perhaps best known for an appearance on live radio in 2014, shouting at a fellow guest to shut up.