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| UKIP MEP hits out at election ban | UKIP MEP hits out at election ban |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| An MEP for the UK Independence Party has hit back after being told she can not stand for the party again. | An MEP for the UK Independence Party has hit back after being told she can not stand for the party again. |
| Nikki Sinclaire was accused of breaking UKIP rules after she quit its European Parliament grouping, accusing its partners of "extremist views". | Nikki Sinclaire was accused of breaking UKIP rules after she quit its European Parliament grouping, accusing its partners of "extremist views". |
| UKIP's leader in Brussels Nigel Farage also claimed she had not disclosed that she had been made bankrupt in the past. | UKIP's leader in Brussels Nigel Farage also claimed she had not disclosed that she had been made bankrupt in the past. |
| Miss Sinclaire denied this and said she planned to stand for the Eurosceptic party at the general election. | Miss Sinclaire denied this and said she planned to stand for the Eurosceptic party at the general election. |
| She told BBC2's Daily Politics that despite not facing any disciplinary procedures she had been told by party officials she could not use its logo or name in future elections. | She told BBC2's Daily Politics that despite not facing any disciplinary procedures she had been told by party officials she could not use its logo or name in future elections. |
| She said UKIP's party secretary and press officers had been "fully aware" of her bankruptcy, which had "long since been discharged". | She said UKIP's party secretary and press officers had been "fully aware" of her bankruptcy, which had "long since been discharged". |
| Internal row | Internal row |
| Ms Sinclaire, one of 13 UKIP representatives in the European Parliament, has said her relationship with Mr Farage, the party's most prominent figure, had broken down. | |
| She was responding to remarks made earlier this week by Mr Farage, who said he took a "dim view" of her decision to quit the Europe of Freedom and Democracy grouping and other actions. | She was responding to remarks made earlier this week by Mr Farage, who said he took a "dim view" of her decision to quit the Europe of Freedom and Democracy grouping and other actions. |
| Ms Sinclaire, who is a lesbian, said she had been "very hurt" by his comments. | |
| The MEP for the West Midlands, who was an unsuccessful candidate in UKIP's recent leadership contest, has accused some of the party's coalition partners in Brussels of holding anti-semitic views. | |
| I want to continue within UKIP and fight for what it believes in Nikki Sinclaire, UKIP MEP | I want to continue within UKIP and fight for what it believes in Nikki Sinclaire, UKIP MEP |
| The Europe of Freedom and Democracy group is dominated by UKIP and Liga Nord, an Italian party which is part of Prime Minister's Silvio Berlusconi's governing coalition. | The Europe of Freedom and Democracy group is dominated by UKIP and Liga Nord, an Italian party which is part of Prime Minister's Silvio Berlusconi's governing coalition. |
| Miss Sinclaire said she did not sign up to the party alliance when she was elected and also questioned the transparency of the group's finances. | Miss Sinclaire said she did not sign up to the party alliance when she was elected and also questioned the transparency of the group's finances. |
| She also accused UKIP officials of excluding her from a meeting without giving her any chance to defend herself. | |
| "I have not been through any disciplinary procedures," she told the BBC's Daily Politics Show. "I have had no right of reply." | "I have not been through any disciplinary procedures," she told the BBC's Daily Politics Show. "I have had no right of reply." |
| She said Lord Pearson, who succeeded Mr Farage as leader in December, told her she would be able to remain as a UKIP representative outside the coalition and appealed to him to "honour" this. | She said Lord Pearson, who succeeded Mr Farage as leader in December, told her she would be able to remain as a UKIP representative outside the coalition and appealed to him to "honour" this. |
| "I want to continue within UKIP and fight for what it believes in." | "I want to continue within UKIP and fight for what it believes in." |
| However, she said she would not return to the EU grouping. | However, she said she would not return to the EU grouping. |
| Party discipline | Party discipline |
| By leaving its EU coalition, UKIP said Ms Sinclaire had broken party rules and could not stand again for elected office as a UKIP member. | By leaving its EU coalition, UKIP said Ms Sinclaire had broken party rules and could not stand again for elected office as a UKIP member. |
| Ms Sinclaire had been selected to fight the Meriden seat at the next UK general election. | Ms Sinclaire had been selected to fight the Meriden seat at the next UK general election. |
| In a statement, UKIP's National Executive Committee said Ms Sinclaire had "dishonoured a pledge" to work within the group towards the party's goal of leaving the EU. | In a statement, UKIP's National Executive Committee said Ms Sinclaire had "dishonoured a pledge" to work within the group towards the party's goal of leaving the EU. |
| "UKIP is saddened and disappointed at the news that Nikki Sinclaire has chosen to leave UKIP's group in the European Parliament," the body's chairman, Paul Nuttall, said. | "UKIP is saddened and disappointed at the news that Nikki Sinclaire has chosen to leave UKIP's group in the European Parliament," the body's chairman, Paul Nuttall, said. |
| He said she had committed "a separate breach of party discipline" by not revealing important information at the time of her selection. | He said she had committed "a separate breach of party discipline" by not revealing important information at the time of her selection. |
| Mr Farage said on Wednesday that UKIP would taking a "tough action" against Ms Sinclaire. | Mr Farage said on Wednesday that UKIP would taking a "tough action" against Ms Sinclaire. |
| Ms Sinclaire recently stood for the leadership of the party, vacated by Mr Farage after he stood down to challenge Commons Speaker John Bercow in the general election. | Ms Sinclaire recently stood for the leadership of the party, vacated by Mr Farage after he stood down to challenge Commons Speaker John Bercow in the general election. |