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Ukip's Paul Nuttall resigns over Tommy Robinson appointment Ukip's Paul Nuttall latest to resign over Tommy Robinson appointment
(35 minutes later)
Ukip has lost its second former leader in three days, and its leader in Scotland, over the party’s decision to appoint the far-right Islamophobic campaigner Tommy Robinson as an adviser. Ukip has lost its second former leader in three days, and its leader in Scotland and a Welsh MEP, over the party’s decision to appoint the far-right Islamophobic campaigner Tommy Robinson as an adviser.
Paul Nuttall, who led the party during the 2017 election, said Ukip’s new links to Robinson were a catastrophic error that would tarnish Brexit.Paul Nuttall, who led the party during the 2017 election, said Ukip’s new links to Robinson were a catastrophic error that would tarnish Brexit.
Ukip’s Scottish leader David Coburn has also quit over the issue on Friday, as did Welsh MEP Nathan Gill. Ukip’s Scottish leader, David Coburn, also quit over the issue on Friday, as did the Welsh MEP Nathan Gill.
On Tuesday, Nigel Farage quit the party, saying it had a “fixation” with the anti-Muslim policies of its leader, Gerard Batten.On Tuesday, Nigel Farage quit the party, saying it had a “fixation” with the anti-Muslim policies of its leader, Gerard Batten.
The latest resignations means more than half of Ukip’s 24 MEPs elected in 2014 no longer represent the party. The latest resignations mean more than half of Ukip’s 24 MEPs elected in 2014 no longer represent the party.
Nuttall, the MEP for North West England, said: “I am resigning because the party is being taken in a direction which I believe is harmful to Brexit. The association with Tommy Robinson will simply appal many moderate Brexit voters.”Nuttall, the MEP for North West England, said: “I am resigning because the party is being taken in a direction which I believe is harmful to Brexit. The association with Tommy Robinson will simply appal many moderate Brexit voters.”
In a resignation letter to the party, Coburn said he did “not run on an anti-Islam platform”. He added: “Unfortunately, this seems to be the direction that Ukip is taking – obsessing about this issue to the exclusion of all else at a time when we might lose the Brexit we fought so hard for.”In a resignation letter to the party, Coburn said he did “not run on an anti-Islam platform”. He added: “Unfortunately, this seems to be the direction that Ukip is taking – obsessing about this issue to the exclusion of all else at a time when we might lose the Brexit we fought so hard for.”
Gill’s resignation letter said: “I can no longer belong to a party that switched its primary focus from Brexit, to a foolish pursuit against Islam and promotion of Tommy Robinson.” In his resignation letter, Gill said: “I can no longer belong to a party that switched its primary focus from Brexit, to a foolish pursuit against Islam and promotion of Tommy Robinson.”
Nuttall made a similar point in his statement. He said: “The Tommy Robinson issue should have been shelved and debated within the party following Brexit – in line with the sensible decision taken by the national executive committee last month. The party leadership and my MEP colleagues have been aware of my views on this issue for some time.Nuttall made a similar point in his statement. He said: “The Tommy Robinson issue should have been shelved and debated within the party following Brexit – in line with the sensible decision taken by the national executive committee last month. The party leadership and my MEP colleagues have been aware of my views on this issue for some time.
“Putting Tommy Robinson front and centre, whilst Brexit is in the process of being betrayed, is in my view a catastrophic error. To conflate Brexit and Robinson at this crucial moment is to put the Eurosceptic cause in danger and I cannot and will not be party to that.”“Putting Tommy Robinson front and centre, whilst Brexit is in the process of being betrayed, is in my view a catastrophic error. To conflate Brexit and Robinson at this crucial moment is to put the Eurosceptic cause in danger and I cannot and will not be party to that.”
Nuttall said he made the decision to resign with an “immense amount of reluctance and regret, as I have worked tirelessly for the party for the past 14 years”.Nuttall said he made the decision to resign with an “immense amount of reluctance and regret, as I have worked tirelessly for the party for the past 14 years”.
When Nuttall was leader he stood by Batten when he described Islam as a “death cult”. Batten, who has also called for Muslim-only prisons, survived an attempt by Farage to unseat him last weekend.When Nuttall was leader he stood by Batten when he described Islam as a “death cult”. Batten, who has also called for Muslim-only prisons, survived an attempt by Farage to unseat him last weekend.
While members made clear that they did not want to allow Robinson to join Ukip – the founder of the far-right English Defence League is barred under current rules – a vote of no confidence in Batten was defeated. While members made clear they did not want to allow Robinson – the founder of the far-right English Defence League, to join Ukip and he is in any case barred under current rules – a vote of no confidence in Batten was defeated.
UK Independence party (Ukip)UK Independence party (Ukip)
Paul NuttallPaul Nuttall
Tommy RobinsonTommy Robinson
BrexitBrexit
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