This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27399841

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UKIP student quits over campaign message UKIP student quits over campaign message
(about 17 hours later)
A prominent member of UKIP's youth wing has resigned from the party, accusing it of descending into a "form of racist populism".A prominent member of UKIP's youth wing has resigned from the party, accusing it of descending into a "form of racist populism".
In a blog on the Guardian website, student Sanya-Jeet Thandi criticised UKIP for running an "anti-immigrant campaign" and of trying to "exploit the ignorance in British society".In a blog on the Guardian website, student Sanya-Jeet Thandi criticised UKIP for running an "anti-immigrant campaign" and of trying to "exploit the ignorance in British society".
She promised to abstain in the forthcoming European elections. She said she would abstain in the forthcoming European elections.
A UKIP source said she was "free to speak her opinions". A UKIP source said her resignation was "of no great significance".
They added that the party was growing at a "rate of knots" and one member leaving was not an important event. The party was growing at a "rate of knots", they added. "She is just one voice out of a total membership of 2,000 in our youth wing."
'Dirty game''Dirty game'
Ms Thandi, a student at the London School of Economics, had been a member of Young Independence, UKIP's Youth Wing, for three years.Ms Thandi, a student at the London School of Economics, had been a member of Young Independence, UKIP's Youth Wing, for three years.
She spoke at the 2012 party conference and has appeared on Channel 4 News.She spoke at the 2012 party conference and has appeared on Channel 4 News.
But, in her blog, she criticised the recent use of a poster saying that 26 million people in Europe were looking for work and asking: "And whose jobs are they after?"But, in her blog, she criticised the recent use of a poster saying that 26 million people in Europe were looking for work and asking: "And whose jobs are they after?"
She wrote that "the direction in which the party is going is terrifying: UKIP has descended into a form of racist populism that I cannot bring myself to vote for.She wrote that "the direction in which the party is going is terrifying: UKIP has descended into a form of racist populism that I cannot bring myself to vote for.
"This week I decided to leave the party and I will abstain from voting in the upcoming European elections. I urge other UKIP supporters to do the same.""This week I decided to leave the party and I will abstain from voting in the upcoming European elections. I urge other UKIP supporters to do the same."
She also wrote: "I understand that British politics in the 21st Century has become a dirty game of populism, but UKIP is straying further and further from the policies that attracted so many of its original supporters, instead cynically pursuing ever more aggressive anti-immigrant rhetoric."She also wrote: "I understand that British politics in the 21st Century has become a dirty game of populism, but UKIP is straying further and further from the policies that attracted so many of its original supporters, instead cynically pursuing ever more aggressive anti-immigrant rhetoric."
UKIP's head of communications, Patrick O'Flynn tweeted that Ms Thandi was going against the trend when it came to Young Independence.UKIP's head of communications, Patrick O'Flynn tweeted that Ms Thandi was going against the trend when it came to Young Independence.
He tweeted: "YI membership topped 2,000 in May, approximately x2 what it was a year ago. Approx 200 new members since start of March."He tweeted: "YI membership topped 2,000 in May, approximately x2 what it was a year ago. Approx 200 new members since start of March."
And a party source told the BBC: "She's a young person and she speaks her opinions. I'm free not to consider them very important." And a party source told the BBC: "She's a young person and she speaks her opinions. I'm free not to consider them very important.
"I don't regard her as a person I should spend a huge amount of my time bothering about."
The source dismissed her suggestion that UKIP now focussed on immigration above issues like low taxation and a smaller state.
He suggested she was a "theoretical libertarian" and UKIP had a much broader agenda.
Last week, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the party was "not racist". He told activists that a "handful" of its thousands of candidates had said "stupid or offensive" things, but "they never have, and they never will" represent the views of the party.Last week, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the party was "not racist". He told activists that a "handful" of its thousands of candidates had said "stupid or offensive" things, but "they never have, and they never will" represent the views of the party.