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Senior member of Germany's far-right AfD to address Ukip conference Senior member of Germany's far-right AfD to address Ukip conference
(about 1 hour later)
A senior member of Alternative für Deutschland, which has become the first openly nationalist party to enter the German Bundestag in more than 70 years, is to address the Ukip conference this week, it has been announced. A senior member of Alternative for Germany, which has become the first openly nationalist party to enter the German Bundestag in more than 70 years, is to address the Ukip conference this week, it has been announced.
A spokesman for Ukip confirmed the news on Monday, though he declined to say which AfD member would attend the conference in Torquay on Friday and Saturday. A party spokesman confirmed the news on Monday, but declined to say which AfD member would attend the conference in Torquay on Friday and Saturday.
“This, we believe, will be the first major appearance of the breakthrough eurosceptic party in the UK since the German federal elections,” Ukip said, calling it a “must-see moment for all students of European politics”. “This, we believe, will be the first major appearance of the breakthrough Eurosceptic party in the UK since the German federal elections,” Ukip said, calling it a “must-see moment for all students of European politics”.
The two parties have existing ties. Ukip’s former leader Nigel Farage addressed AfD during the German election campaign and, as news emerged on Monday morning that the party had come third in the elections, Ukip’s interim leader, Steve Crowther, released a statement congratulating AfD. The two parties have existing ties. The former Ukip leader Nigel Farage addressed AfD during the German election campaign and the party’s interim leader, Steve Crowther, released a statement congratulating the party after it came third in the election.
“This is a brave move in Germany, whose politics has been overshadowed by the Nazi era. It shows that the people are no longer prepared to be ignored and coerced by the liberal left,” Crowther said.“This is a brave move in Germany, whose politics has been overshadowed by the Nazi era. It shows that the people are no longer prepared to be ignored and coerced by the liberal left,” Crowther said.
AfD faced immediate turmoil after the election, with its co-leader announcing she would not sit with it in the Bundestag. Frauke Petry walked out of a press conference on Monday morning at which the party leadership marvelled at its success, having secured nearly 13% of the vote and 94 seats in the federal parliament. AfD faced immediate turmoil after the election, with its co-leader announcing that she would not sit with it in the Bundestag. Frauke Petry walked out of a press conference on Monday morning during which the party leadership marvelled at its success, having secured nearly 13% of the vote and 94 seats in the federal parliament.
Ukip is due to unveil its fourth leader inside a year at this weekend’s conference. The plan to invite an AfD member reinforces Ukip’s increasing ideological ties with hard-right and nationalistic parties in Europe. Ukip is due to unveil its fourth leader within a year at the conference. The plan to invite an AfD member reinforces its increasing ideological ties with hard-right and nationalistic parties in Europe.
Seeking a new direction for the party following the referendum on Brexit, its focal issue, several of the seven candidates to replace Paul Nuttall are promising a more robust nationalist and cultural approach, often based on intolerance towards Islam. Seeking a new direction for the party after the Brexit vote, many of the seven candidates to replace Paul Nuttall are promising a more robust nationalist and cultural approach, often based on a hardline attitude towards Islam.
The most extreme of the candidates is Anne Marie Waters, a co-founder of the UK branch of the anti-Islam Pegida movement, who has close ties to the far right and has described Islam as “evil”. The most extreme of the candidates is Anne Marie Waters, a co-founder of the UK branch of the anti-Muslim Pegida movement, who has close ties to the far right and has described Islam as “evil”.
The bulk of Ukip’s MEPs have promised to quit the party if she wins. On Sunday it was reported that Farage would form a new Brexit-based party if Waters took over. The bulk of Ukip’s MEPs have promised to quit the party if she wins. Iit was reported on Sunday that Farage would form a new Brexit-based party if Waters took over.
The Mail on Sunday cited unnamed friends of Farage as saying he felt there was an opportunity for a new party to appeal to more hardline Brexiters in the wake of Theresa May’s perceived easing over the issue. The Mail on Sunday cited unnamed friends of Farage as saying he felt there was an opportunity for a new party to appeal to more hardline Brexiters following Theresa May’s perceived softening on the issue.
Farage, who has predicted that Ukip would soon be extinct if Waters took over, plans to announce the new party if she wins. Farage, who has predicted that Ukip would soon be extinct if Waters took over, plans to announce the party if she wins.
Even if Waters does not win, several other frontrunners have pledged to reshape the party on more cultural grounds, including Peter Whittle, the architect of Ukip’s Islam-targeting policies at the June election. Another hopeful, David Kurten, has described the rise of transgender rights as one of the most pressing problems facing the UK. Even if Waters is not named leader, several other frontrunners have pledged to refocus Ukip on cultural grounds, including Peter Whittle, the architect of Ukip’s Islam-targeting policies at the June election. Another hopeful, David Kurten, has described the rise of transgender rights as one of the most pressing problems facing the UK.