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Arron Banks likely to continue funding Ukip, says new leader Arron Banks likely to continue funding Ukip, says new leader
(35 minutes later)
Ukip’s new leader, Paul Nuttall, has said that Arron Banks is “more than likely” to continue funding the party. Arron Banks is “more than likely” to continue funding Ukip, the party’s new leader, Paul Nuttall, has said.
Banks, the insurance millionaire who spent £7.5m backing Nigel Farage’s leave campaign and contributed more than £1m to Ukip before the last election, said last month that he was undecided about whether to continue funding the party under Nuttall’s leadership. Banks, the insurance millionaire who spent £7.5m backing Nigel Farage’s leave campaign and contributed more than £1m to Ukip before the last election, said last month he was undecided about whether to continue funding the party under Nuttall’s leadership.
He had backed Raheem Kassam in the leadership contest and has voiced dissatisfaction with some of Nuttall’s picks for prominent roles.He had backed Raheem Kassam in the leadership contest and has voiced dissatisfaction with some of Nuttall’s picks for prominent roles.
“I’ve had a number of conversations with Arron, they’ve gone really well, and we’ll see in the future,” Nuttall told Nick Ferrari’s LBC radio show. Asked whether he believed Banks would continue donating to the party, Ukip’s leader responded: “I would say more than likely, yes.”“I’ve had a number of conversations with Arron, they’ve gone really well, and we’ll see in the future,” Nuttall told Nick Ferrari’s LBC radio show. Asked whether he believed Banks would continue donating to the party, Ukip’s leader responded: “I would say more than likely, yes.”
Nuttall, who was elected leader in November on a promise to target former Labour voters, defended his leadership. “Since I’ve taken over as leader, we’ve finished second in a byelection, we’ve gone up in the opinion polls and our membership has gone up for the first time in a year, so not a bad start,” he said.Nuttall, who was elected leader in November on a promise to target former Labour voters, defended his leadership. “Since I’ve taken over as leader, we’ve finished second in a byelection, we’ve gone up in the opinion polls and our membership has gone up for the first time in a year, so not a bad start,” he said.
“You will see a distinctive change in Ukip policy,” he said, although he declined to be drawn on specifics. The party will chase Labour voters by continuing “to talk about the issues that matter to people in working-class communities” such as immigration and law and order, but also be ready to capitalise on disenchantment among Tory voters if Brexit negotiations do not go as far as they hoped, he said. “You will see a distinctive change in Ukip policy,” he said, although he declined to be drawn on specifics. The party would chase Labour voters by continuing “to talk about the issues that matter to people in working-class communities” such as immigration and law and order, but also be ready to capitalise on disenchantment among Conservative voters if Brexit negotiations did not go as far as they hoped, he said.
His predecessor, Farage, should have been knighted in the new year’s honours, he said. His predecessor, Farage, should have been knighted in the New Year honours list, he said.
Nuttall is giving “serious consideration” to running for parliament in the Leigh byelection should Andy Burnham, the current MP, win the Greater Manchester mayoral election in May and vacate the seat.Nuttall is giving “serious consideration” to running for parliament in the Leigh byelection should Andy Burnham, the current MP, win the Greater Manchester mayoral election in May and vacate the seat.
He downplayed the potential threat posed by Russia, describing concerns that President Vladimir Putin could interfere with elections in the UK as “reds under the bed” scaremongering. He said: “I don’t think the threat is as great as that of Islamic fundamentalism. I think in the end that that’s the biggest threat to our children and our grandchildren in this century and that in many senses Russia is on our side on this issue, whether that’s in Syria or right across the Middle East.”He downplayed the potential threat posed by Russia, describing concerns that President Vladimir Putin could interfere with elections in the UK as “reds under the bed” scaremongering. He said: “I don’t think the threat is as great as that of Islamic fundamentalism. I think in the end that that’s the biggest threat to our children and our grandchildren in this century and that in many senses Russia is on our side on this issue, whether that’s in Syria or right across the Middle East.”
Challenged by Ferrari on Putin’s annexation of Crimea, Nuttall said: “What happened in Ukraine was six of one, half a dozen of the other,” and added that Saudi Arabia was “the biggest rogue state on the planet”. “They’re sponsoring an extremist form of Islam right across Europe,” he said.Challenged by Ferrari on Putin’s annexation of Crimea, Nuttall said: “What happened in Ukraine was six of one, half a dozen of the other,” and added that Saudi Arabia was “the biggest rogue state on the planet”. “They’re sponsoring an extremist form of Islam right across Europe,” he said.
He also declined to say whether Brexit was a bigger news story than the election of Donald Trump in the US, giving what he described as a “politician’s answer”: “I would say both because both went hand in hand, they were both a well of anti-establishment feeling.” He also declined to say whether Brexit was a bigger news story than the election of Donald Trump in the US, giving what he described as a “politician’s answer”. He said: “I would say both because both went hand in hand, they were both a well of anti-establishment feeling.”
He called for a reduction in the time limit for abortions from 24 weeks to 12 and said he would back the death penalty for those who kill children.He called for a reduction in the time limit for abortions from 24 weeks to 12 and said he would back the death penalty for those who kill children.
Nuttall said he had been “pretty open” about his views on abortion, adding that the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, and the Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, also supported reducing the limit.Nuttall said he had been “pretty open” about his views on abortion, adding that the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, and the Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, also supported reducing the limit.
Ferrari challenged him on past comments in which he said that advertising abortion “trivialises what is in reality the killing of an unborn child” and appeared to draw comparisons between abortion and high-profile murderers of children such as Ian Brady.Ferrari challenged him on past comments in which he said that advertising abortion “trivialises what is in reality the killing of an unborn child” and appeared to draw comparisons between abortion and high-profile murderers of children such as Ian Brady.
“My view is simply this: I would like to see the limit for abortion reduced simply because I think we’ve had scientific and medical advances,” he said.“My view is simply this: I would like to see the limit for abortion reduced simply because I think we’ve had scientific and medical advances,” he said.
Nuttall said he would support the death penalty for those who murder children. “I genuinely believe that if there was a referendum for the return of the death penalty for child killers, I would vote in favour,” he said.Nuttall said he would support the death penalty for those who murder children. “I genuinely believe that if there was a referendum for the return of the death penalty for child killers, I would vote in favour,” he said.