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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”. | 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 would not give further details on the claims, which relate to an investigation by The Sun. | The party would not give further details on the claims, which relate to an investigation by The Sun. |
| The newspaper said it had secretly filmed a member of her staff appearing to plot to make a "substantial bogus expenses claim", which reportedly involved a restaurant bill. | The newspaper said it had secretly filmed a member of her staff appearing to plot to make a "substantial bogus expenses claim", which reportedly involved a restaurant bill. |
| Ms Atkinson was pictured swearing at local activists in Kent in May last year | Ms Atkinson was pictured swearing at local activists in Kent in May last year |
| 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. | 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. |
| A source close to party leader Nigel Farage they had not yet seen all the evidence of the alleged wrongdoing but were “satisfied the conditions are such that we have had to suspend her”. | |
| “She appears to have been part of this attempt to solicit a receipt that was not all it should have been,” the source said. The receipt was for about £2,000 and related to an event at a restaurant. | |
| Asked about Ms Atkinson’s reaction to the claims, he said she appeared “very, very surprised” that she was being criticised. | |
| “She doesn’t see what she’s done wrong. I think she’s genuinely dense enough not to realise this is not the way things happen,” the insider said. | |
| Nigel Farage flanked by fellow Ukip MEPs Janice Atkinson (R) and Diane James (L) | |
| An official 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”. | |
| “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. | “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. | |
| In his column for The Independent, Mr Farage said he was attempting to “restore some faith and dignity to British politics” in the wake of Ms Atkinson's suspension. | |
| “I want Ukip to be the party that restores decency into our political sphere, and as such, I will do my level best to uphold those principles across the entire party,” he wrote. | “I want Ukip to be the party that restores decency into our political sphere, and as such, I will do my level best to uphold those principles across the entire party,” he wrote. |
| Ms Atkinson has not yet responded to The Independent's requests for comment. | 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. | 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." Nigel Farage distanced himself from Ms Atkinson and vowed to restore 'decency' to politics | “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." Nigel Farage distanced himself from Ms Atkinson and vowed to restore 'decency' to politics |
| Months before that incident, she was caught on camera swearing at a group of activists in Kent by holding her middle finger up. | 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. | Last month, Ms Atkinson said she would scrap the role of Equalities Minister dedicated to policies regarding women, ethnic minority and LGBT issues. |
| She joined Ukip in 2011 and rose up the party to become an MEP last year. She is the author of Ukip's welfare policies. | She joined Ukip in 2011 and rose up the party to become an MEP last year. She is the author of Ukip's welfare policies. |
| On her website, Ms Atkinson describes herself as "happily divorced" and remarried with children. | On her website, Ms Atkinson describes herself as "happily divorced" and remarried with children. |
| She said she joined Ukip to "stand up for things that we believe in" and because she "wants (her) country back". | She said she joined Ukip to "stand up for things that we believe in" and because she "wants (her) country back". |
| 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. | 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 | Additional reporting by PA |