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Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson suspended and axed as election candidate over 'financial allegations' Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson suspended and axed as election candidate over 'financial allegations'
(35 minutes later)
Ukip has removed the whip from MEP Janice Atkinson and axed her as a general election candidate “following allegations of a serious financial nature”, the party said. Ukip has removed the whip from MEP Janice Atkinson and axed her as a general election candidate following "allegations of a serious financial nature”.
Ms Atkinson represents the South East in the European Parliament and was due to fight the Folkestone and Hythe Commons seat on 7 May. The party would not give further details on the claims but they are believed to relate to an investigation by The Sun newspaper.
A party spokesman said it was “incredibly disappointed with Ms Atkinson, who appears to have exercised extremely poor judgment in acting in a way that the party has never and would never condone”. Paul Staines, writing on his Guido Fawkes blog, claimed it related to a restaurant bill that she allegedly haggled with staff to increase so it could be recouped on expenses, although the account could not be confirmed. Ms Atkinson was pictured swearing at local activists in Kent in May last year
“The party has acted swiftly and immediately and, just as we showed when we suspended another MEP for financial irregularities, we always maintain a zero-tolerance attitude towards acts of this nature.” Ms Atkinson represents the South East in the European Parliament and was due to stand as MP for Folkestone and Hythe in May's general election.
It gave no further details of the alleged behaviour that prompted the disciplinary action. A spokesperson for Ukip said the party was “incredibly disappointed with Ms Atkinson, who appears to have exercised extremely poor judgment in acting in a way that the party has never and would never condone”.
PA “The party has acted swiftly and immediately and, just as we showed when we suspended another MEP for financial irregularities, we always maintain a zero-tolerance attitude towards acts of this nature,” he added.
It gave no further details of the alleged behaviour that prompted the disciplinary action. Nigel Farage flanked by fellow Ukip MEPs Janice Atkinson (R) and Diane James (L)
Ms Atkinson has not yet responded to The Independent's requests for comment.
She became embroiled in controversy last year after calling a Thai constituent a "ting tong" in comments recorded by the BBC.
“I deeply regret the words I used and am incredibly sorry," she said afterwards. "It was poor judgment and naivety on my part rather than words spoken with any malice."
Months before that incident, she was caught on camera swearing at a group of activists in Kent by holding her middle finger up.
Last month, Ms Atkinson said she would scrap the role of Equalities Minister dedicated to policies regarding women, ethnic minority and LGBT issues. She is the author of Ukip's welfare policies.
Folkestone and Hythe is seen as a safe Tory seat and was represented by the former party leader, Michael Howard, before fellow Conservative Damian Collins won in 2010.
Additional reporting by PA