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| Ukip, the Tory MP and her father: the candidate who temporarily wasn't | Ukip, the Tory MP and her father: the candidate who temporarily wasn't |
| (5 months later) | |
| The Conservative party and Ukip have been involved in a plot worthy of The Thick of It after the father of the backbench Tory MP Priti Patel embarked on a double U-turn over his candidacy for Britain's new insurgent force. | The Conservative party and Ukip have been involved in a plot worthy of The Thick of It after the father of the backbench Tory MP Priti Patel embarked on a double U-turn over his candidacy for Britain's new insurgent force. |
| As Lord Tebbit provoked Downing Street by offering a carefully qualified endorsement of Ukip, the party leader, Nigel Farage, proudly announced that the father of one of the most prominent Thatcherite MPs would be standing in Hertfordshire in Thursday's local elections. | As Lord Tebbit provoked Downing Street by offering a carefully qualified endorsement of Ukip, the party leader, Nigel Farage, proudly announced that the father of one of the most prominent Thatcherite MPs would be standing in Hertfordshire in Thursday's local elections. |
| Within a few hours of the announcement Conservative sources said that Patel, who shares his daughter's admiration for Thatcher, would not be standing for their rivals. | Within a few hours of the announcement Conservative sources said that Patel, who shares his daughter's admiration for Thatcher, would not be standing for their rivals. |
| Ukip then released a statement saying that Sushil Patel would after all be standing in the Bushey South ward in the Hertfordshire county council elections, but that he would not conduct any interviews as he recovers from an operation. | Ukip then released a statement saying that Sushil Patel would after all be standing in the Bushey South ward in the Hertfordshire county council elections, but that he would not conduct any interviews as he recovers from an operation. |
| It is understood that Patel Sr, who had been warned by the Tories that his candidacy would do his daughter no favours, decided to stay in the race after it was pointed out that candidates could only withdraw by noon 16 days before an election. | It is understood that Patel Sr, who had been warned by the Tories that his candidacy would do his daughter no favours, decided to stay in the race after it was pointed out that candidates could only withdraw by noon 16 days before an election. |
| In the statement he said: "I am proud of being a Ukip candidate and very proud of the achievements of my daughter who represents the people of Witham in an exemplarily fashion. My views are my own and I am astonished that there has been quite so much interest in my candidacy." | In the statement he said: "I am proud of being a Ukip candidate and very proud of the achievements of my daughter who represents the people of Witham in an exemplarily fashion. My views are my own and I am astonished that there has been quite so much interest in my candidacy." |
| Priti Patel told the FT: "He's my dad and I love him." | Priti Patel told the FT: "He's my dad and I love him." |
| The announcement that Sushil Patel – whose daughter says Thatcher inspired her to enter politics – is standing came as a welcome boost for Ukip which says it is casting itself as Britain's true Thatcherite party. Priti Patel first made her name working for the Referendum party of the late Jimmy Goldsmith. | The announcement that Sushil Patel – whose daughter says Thatcher inspired her to enter politics – is standing came as a welcome boost for Ukip which says it is casting itself as Britain's true Thatcherite party. Priti Patel first made her name working for the Referendum party of the late Jimmy Goldsmith. |
| Farage said the candidacy of Patel Sr, who fled to Britain from Uganda in the 1960s to escape the dictatorship of Idi Amin, for Ukip showed that the party was not opposed to all immigration. | Farage said the candidacy of Patel Sr, who fled to Britain from Uganda in the 1960s to escape the dictatorship of Idi Amin, for Ukip showed that the party was not opposed to all immigration. |
| He said: "Mr Patel … came to Britain in 1972 when Amin was trying to kill all the Asians. It was a proposed genocide by Amin. We had a huge debate in Britain about could we accommodate the sheer numbers; could we cope with a refugee influx on that scale. We concluded that morally we had no choice but to give those people refuge, and 27,000 came. | He said: "Mr Patel … came to Britain in 1972 when Amin was trying to kill all the Asians. It was a proposed genocide by Amin. We had a huge debate in Britain about could we accommodate the sheer numbers; could we cope with a refugee influx on that scale. We concluded that morally we had no choice but to give those people refuge, and 27,000 came. |
| "Could we open the doors to Poland and several other eastern European countries in 2004? In two years a million came. We are dealing with something now on a completely different scale. More people came here in 2010 than came here – excluding wartime – between 1066 and 1950. It really is a question of scale. Our strong feeling is that giving away control of who comes to live, work and settle in your country is a rather irresponsible and rather stupid thing to do." | "Could we open the doors to Poland and several other eastern European countries in 2004? In two years a million came. We are dealing with something now on a completely different scale. More people came here in 2010 than came here – excluding wartime – between 1066 and 1950. It really is a question of scale. Our strong feeling is that giving away control of who comes to live, work and settle in your country is a rather irresponsible and rather stupid thing to do." |
| The news that Sushil was Priti's father only reached the Ukip leadership on Monday. As Patel Sr filled out a form to win a place on the list of approved Ukip parliamentary candidates, he contacted his local chairman to say that the only person who could verify it was his daughter, a Conservative MP. | The news that Sushil was Priti's father only reached the Ukip leadership on Monday. As Patel Sr filled out a form to win a place on the list of approved Ukip parliamentary candidates, he contacted his local chairman to say that the only person who could verify it was his daughter, a Conservative MP. |
| It took some time for this useful nugget of information to reach Farage's aides. But once they knew, Farage trumpeted the news at the first high-profile campaign event. | It took some time for this useful nugget of information to reach Farage's aides. But once they knew, Farage trumpeted the news at the first high-profile campaign event. |
| The party has faced a difficult few days amid press revelations that some candidates are former BNP members and at least one holds allegedly anti-Semitic views. One source said: "Sushil Patel is an absolutely bloody decent chap." | The party has faced a difficult few days amid press revelations that some candidates are former BNP members and at least one holds allegedly anti-Semitic views. One source said: "Sushil Patel is an absolutely bloody decent chap." |
| The confusion over the Patel candidacy came as Tebbit accused the Tory leadership of launching a smear campaign against Ukip, and all but endorsed the party. Writing on his blog for the Daily Telegraph, the former Conservative chairman said he would be voting Tory in Suffolk for pragmatic reasons to ensure his council did not fall into Labour, Lib Dem of Green hands. | The confusion over the Patel candidacy came as Tebbit accused the Tory leadership of launching a smear campaign against Ukip, and all but endorsed the party. Writing on his blog for the Daily Telegraph, the former Conservative chairman said he would be voting Tory in Suffolk for pragmatic reasons to ensure his council did not fall into Labour, Lib Dem of Green hands. |
| But Tebbit added: "Of course it may well be that many former Conservative voters are so fed up with the Cameron coalition that they will turn to Ukip as the party which comes closest to a traditional Conservative agenda, and a reasoned position on the European issue. One can hardly blame them for that." | But Tebbit added: "Of course it may well be that many former Conservative voters are so fed up with the Cameron coalition that they will turn to Ukip as the party which comes closest to a traditional Conservative agenda, and a reasoned position on the European issue. One can hardly blame them for that." |
| Ukip could face an investigation by the broadcasting watchdog, Ofcom, over accusations it made misleading claims in its party election broadcast over Britain's contribution to the EU. | Ukip could face an investigation by the broadcasting watchdog, Ofcom, over accusations it made misleading claims in its party election broadcast over Britain's contribution to the EU. |
| The pro-European British Influence thinktank lodged a complaint after Ukip claimed that Britain was "sending £53m a day to Brussels". The thinktank says the figure is less than £19m a day. | The pro-European British Influence thinktank lodged a complaint after Ukip claimed that Britain was "sending £53m a day to Brussels". The thinktank says the figure is less than £19m a day. |
| Its director, Peter Wilding, said: "Ukip are spinning figures about the EU when the true cost is much smaller and balanced by benefits. We'd like to see a debate based on the facts and not spin and that's why we have written to Nigel Farage and made this complaint." | Its director, Peter Wilding, said: "Ukip are spinning figures about the EU when the true cost is much smaller and balanced by benefits. We'd like to see a debate based on the facts and not spin and that's why we have written to Nigel Farage and made this complaint." |
| An Ofcom spokesman said: "Ofcom can confirm that it has received a complaint regarding a party election broadcast by Ukip, which we are assessing but not currently investigating." | An Ofcom spokesman said: "Ofcom can confirm that it has received a complaint regarding a party election broadcast by Ukip, which we are assessing but not currently investigating." |
| A Ukip candidate in Somerset who was suspended by the party after photos were published of him apparently making a Nazi salute said the allegations were completely untrue. Alex Wood, 22, claimed that he was simply reaching out for a friend's mobile phone during a Halloween party where he was dressed as a pirate. | A Ukip candidate in Somerset who was suspended by the party after photos were published of him apparently making a Nazi salute said the allegations were completely untrue. Alex Wood, 22, claimed that he was simply reaching out for a friend's mobile phone during a Halloween party where he was dressed as a pirate. |
| Wood told the BBC: "The supposed salute was my left hand reaching for my friend's mobile. My Facebook account has been hacked. This matter is being dealt with by the police. I see myself as a democratic libertarian. Racist, homophobic, fascist views absolutely disgust me. So these statements are not mine." | Wood told the BBC: "The supposed salute was my left hand reaching for my friend's mobile. My Facebook account has been hacked. This matter is being dealt with by the police. I see myself as a democratic libertarian. Racist, homophobic, fascist views absolutely disgust me. So these statements are not mine." |
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