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/oct/17/ukip-mep-steven-woolfe-quits-party
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ukip MEP Steven Woolfe quits party | Ukip MEP Steven Woolfe quits party |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Steven Woolfe has withdrawn from the Ukip leadership race, quit the party and made a police complaint about his altercation with a fellow MEP. | Steven Woolfe has withdrawn from the Ukip leadership race, quit the party and made a police complaint about his altercation with a fellow MEP. |
| He will now sit as an independent in the European parliament, after coming to the conclusion that Ukip is “ungovernable” after the departure of Nigel Farage. | He will now sit as an independent in the European parliament, after coming to the conclusion that Ukip is “ungovernable” after the departure of Nigel Farage. |
| Woolfe’s future in the Ukip leadership race has been in doubt since he was taken to hospital following an altercation with fellow Ukip MEP Mike Hookem. | Woolfe’s future in the Ukip leadership race has been in doubt since he was taken to hospital following an altercation with fellow Ukip MEP Mike Hookem. |
| He confirmed in a statement on Monday that he had made a police complaint about being hit by his colleague. | |
| Hookem has strongly denied landing a blow on Woolfe, threatening legal action for defamation and suggesting he staged a photograph that showed him passed out after having a seizure. | |
| The row was sparked after it emerged that Woolfe had held discussions about defecting to the Conservatives before he declared as a candidate for the Ukip leadership when Diane James resigned after just 18 days. | The row was sparked after it emerged that Woolfe had held discussions about defecting to the Conservatives before he declared as a candidate for the Ukip leadership when Diane James resigned after just 18 days. |
| In a statement, Woolfe said: “It was because of the support from party members that I put my name forward to lead the party in the summer, and again two weeks ago following Diane’s resignation. However, I could not have foreseen the events that would follow. | In a statement, Woolfe said: “It was because of the support from party members that I put my name forward to lead the party in the summer, and again two weeks ago following Diane’s resignation. However, I could not have foreseen the events that would follow. |
| “The events at the meeting in Strasbourg led to me later being treated by doctors for two seizures, partial paralysis and loss of feeling in my face and body... | “The events at the meeting in Strasbourg led to me later being treated by doctors for two seizures, partial paralysis and loss of feeling in my face and body... |
| “Since then, I have spent some time considering my personal and political future. It is with deep sorrow and regret that I am aborting my leadership campaign and announcing my resignation from Ukip with immediate effect.” | “Since then, I have spent some time considering my personal and political future. It is with deep sorrow and regret that I am aborting my leadership campaign and announcing my resignation from Ukip with immediate effect.” |
| Woolfe said he had believed a strong Ukip would help deliver a clean Brexit but came to the conclusion that it could not be held together without the uniting power of Farage. | |
| He added: “The way I was treated by members of my own party during the summer’s leadership campaign and the events that have led up to today have all contributed to me coming to this conclusion. The party is riddled with infighting, proxy wars between rival camps and is run by an NEC that is not fit for purpose.” | |
| Despite reports that police were not involved in his fracas with Hookem, Woolfe said he had made a formal complaint and is also seeking legal advice about Ukip’s investigation into the incident.Woolfe was the favourite to lead Ukip, with the backing of major donor Arron Banks, but his departure now leaves the contest to succeed Farage wide open. | |
| The declared candidates include Raheem Kassam, Farage’s former chief of staff, Bill Etheridge, a Midlands MEP, and Peter Whittle, a London assembly member, but Paul Nuttall, the former deputy leader, and Suzanne Evans, the former deputy chairman who clashed with Farage, may also decide to run. | |
| After a meeting of its ruling body on Monday, Ukip announced that it would change the rules to allow members of just 28 days standing to run as long as they have the support of at least 75 people from 10 party branches, allowing Kassam and Evans to take part. | |
| The party will run a swift contest, with hustings in the first two weeks of next month, ballots despatched on 11 November and a new leader announced by the end of the month. |