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| Ukip's suspended members: Janice Atkinson joins long list as police investigate her expenses | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Police are investigating the Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson over suspected fraud, following claims that her senior aide asked hotel staff to make up a lunch bill for more than £3,000 so she could claim the money back at European taxpayers’ expense. | Police are investigating the Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson over suspected fraud, following claims that her senior aide asked hotel staff to make up a lunch bill for more than £3,000 so she could claim the money back at European taxpayers’ expense. |
| The party suspended the politician following allegations of a “serious financial nature”, and its leader, Nigel Farage, said the claims “couldn’t look worse”. | The party suspended the politician following allegations of a “serious financial nature”, and its leader, Nigel Farage, said the claims “couldn’t look worse”. |
| Kent Police said it is investigating after Ms Atkinson’s chief of staff, Christine Hewitt, was secretly recorded appearing to ask the manager of a restaurant in Margate, before Ukip’s spring conference, to more than treble the £950 cost of a meal. | Kent Police said it is investigating after Ms Atkinson’s chief of staff, Christine Hewitt, was secretly recorded appearing to ask the manager of a restaurant in Margate, before Ukip’s spring conference, to more than treble the £950 cost of a meal. |
| Ms Hewitt is heard to say: “The idea is we overcharge them slightly, because that’s the way we repatriate it [from Europe].” | Ms Hewitt is heard to say: “The idea is we overcharge them slightly, because that’s the way we repatriate it [from Europe].” |
| A member of staff replies: “£3,150, is that all right? Yeah, if you’re all right with that? Is that enough for you?” | A member of staff replies: “£3,150, is that all right? Yeah, if you’re all right with that? Is that enough for you?” |
| Ms Hewitt responds: “Oh God yeah, that’s more than enough.” | Ms Hewitt responds: “Oh God yeah, that’s more than enough.” |
| Ms Atkinson, MEP for the South East, who was due to fight the Folkestone and Hythe seat in the general election on 7 May, has declined to comment. It is not known whether she knew of or authorised her aide’s apparent actions. | Ms Atkinson, MEP for the South East, who was due to fight the Folkestone and Hythe seat in the general election on 7 May, has declined to comment. It is not known whether she knew of or authorised her aide’s apparent actions. |
| Mr Farage said yesterday: “It looks very bad – it couldn’t look worse and I’m astonished by it. I spoke to [Ms Atkinson] after midnight and she said it was all to do with bills and fundraising. I was, frankly, confused by it all. I simply couldn’t believe it – how on earth could anyone think they could behave like this?” Ms Atkinson faces a Ukip disciplinary hearing next week. | Mr Farage said yesterday: “It looks very bad – it couldn’t look worse and I’m astonished by it. I spoke to [Ms Atkinson] after midnight and she said it was all to do with bills and fundraising. I was, frankly, confused by it all. I simply couldn’t believe it – how on earth could anyone think they could behave like this?” Ms Atkinson faces a Ukip disciplinary hearing next week. |
| In a grim 24 hours for Ukip, the party suspended a second candidate following an “alleged incident in the workplace”. Stephen Howd, 49, a barrister, was representing Ukip in Scunthorpe. | In a grim 24 hours for Ukip, the party suspended a second candidate following an “alleged incident in the workplace”. Stephen Howd, 49, a barrister, was representing Ukip in Scunthorpe. |
| A third, Jonathan Stanley standing in Westmorland and Lonsdale, resigned and accused Ukip of bullying. | A third, Jonathan Stanley standing in Westmorland and Lonsdale, resigned and accused Ukip of bullying. |
| Since 2010 the party has suspended at least 19 councillors, 14 parliamentary candidates, a national secretary, its youth leader, one spokesperson, its Scotland chair, an entire local branch, three MEPs and a local committee. | Since 2010 the party has suspended at least 19 councillors, 14 parliamentary candidates, a national secretary, its youth leader, one spokesperson, its Scotland chair, an entire local branch, three MEPs and a local committee. |
| Name: Janice Atkinson | Name: Janice Atkinson |
| Janice Atkinson speaking to Ukip supporters in February Position: MEP | Janice Atkinson speaking to Ukip supporters in February Position: MEP |
| Alleged offence: serious financial irregularities | Alleged offence: serious financial irregularities |
| Date of suspension: 19 March 2015 | Date of suspension: 19 March 2015 |
| Resolved? Disciplinary hearing to be held ‘early next week’. Atkinson previously survived a race row after referring to a Thai constituent as a ‘ting-tong’. Nigel Farage ordered the MEP to apologise to the woman in person. | Resolved? Disciplinary hearing to be held ‘early next week’. Atkinson previously survived a race row after referring to a Thai constituent as a ‘ting-tong’. Nigel Farage ordered the MEP to apologise to the woman in person. |
| Name: Stephen Howd | Name: Stephen Howd |
| Position: Scunthorpe PPC | Position: Scunthorpe PPC |
| Alleged offence: ‘incident in the workplace’ | Alleged offence: ‘incident in the workplace’ |
| Date of suspension: 20 March 2015 | Date of suspension: 20 March 2015 |
| Resolved? An investigation has been launched into the Leeds-based barrister. | Resolved? An investigation has been launched into the Leeds-based barrister. |
| Name: Amjad Bashir | Name: Amjad Bashir |
| Amjad Bashir said Ukip had become a 'party of ruthless self-interest' Position: MEP | Amjad Bashir said Ukip had become a 'party of ruthless self-interest' Position: MEP |
| Alleged offence: ‘a number of extremely serious issues… which include unanswered financial and employment questions’ | Alleged offence: ‘a number of extremely serious issues… which include unanswered financial and employment questions’ |
| Date of suspension: 24 January 2015 | Date of suspension: 24 January 2015 |
| Resolved? Yorkshire and the Humber MEP Bashir defected to the Conservatives on the day of his suspension effectively rendering Ukip’s investigation into him redundant. Ukip MEP Mike Hookem said he has passed on evidence of Mr Bashir’s alleged wrongdoing to West Yorkshire police. | Resolved? Yorkshire and the Humber MEP Bashir defected to the Conservatives on the day of his suspension effectively rendering Ukip’s investigation into him redundant. Ukip MEP Mike Hookem said he has passed on evidence of Mr Bashir’s alleged wrongdoing to West Yorkshire police. |
| Name: Roger Bird | Name: Roger Bird |
| Roger Bird, former Ukip general secretary Position: General Secretary | Roger Bird, former Ukip general secretary Position: General Secretary |
| Alleged offence: sexual harassment | Alleged offence: sexual harassment |
| Date of suspension: 9 December 2014 | Date of suspension: 9 December 2014 |
| Resolved? Former Labour activist Natasha Bolter claimed Mr Bird had propositioned her during her selection process to become a Ukip parliamentary candidate. Mr Bird vigorously denied the claims and provided evidence showing the pair had been in a consensual relationship. He was cleared of wrongdoing on 23 December after an independent investigation but left the party by mutual consent. | Resolved? Former Labour activist Natasha Bolter claimed Mr Bird had propositioned her during her selection process to become a Ukip parliamentary candidate. Mr Bird vigorously denied the claims and provided evidence showing the pair had been in a consensual relationship. He was cleared of wrongdoing on 23 December after an independent investigation but left the party by mutual consent. |
| Name: Winston Mckenzie/Lambeth and Croydon North branch | Name: Winston Mckenzie/Lambeth and Croydon North branch |
| Political lightweight: Former boxer Winston McKenzie Position: Branch Chairman | Political lightweight: Former boxer Winston McKenzie Position: Branch Chairman |
| Alleged offence: misappropriation of donations | Alleged offence: misappropriation of donations |
| Date of suspension: 19 December 2014 | Date of suspension: 19 December 2014 |
| Resolved? Mr Mackenzie and the local committee were suspended, along and the whole branch disbanded, following months of infighting culminating in accusations that £1,000 in donations had been misappropriated. An investigation found no evidence the funds had been misused but said proper procedures had not been followed. Mr McKenzie remains PPC for Croydon North but was “reshuffled” from his position as Commonwealth spokesperson comparing the move to a scene from The Godfather Part II. “I was Fredo on the boat. I was killed off my post,” he said. | Resolved? Mr Mackenzie and the local committee were suspended, along and the whole branch disbanded, following months of infighting culminating in accusations that £1,000 in donations had been misappropriated. An investigation found no evidence the funds had been misused but said proper procedures had not been followed. Mr McKenzie remains PPC for Croydon North but was “reshuffled” from his position as Commonwealth spokesperson comparing the move to a scene from The Godfather Part II. “I was Fredo on the boat. I was killed off my post,” he said. |
| Name: Brecon and Radnor branch | Name: Brecon and Radnor branch |
| Position: Regional committee | Position: Regional committee |
| Alleged offence: Bringing the party into disrepute | Alleged offence: Bringing the party into disrepute |
| Date of suspension: 22 February 2015 | Date of suspension: 22 February 2015 |
| Resolved? The row began when the branch elected just one person who was then elected its Westminster candidate. Ukip said correct procedure had not been followed and declared the selection invalid, suspending the entire branch. The row continues. | Resolved? The row began when the branch elected just one person who was then elected its Westminster candidate. Ukip said correct procedure had not been followed and declared the selection invalid, suspending the entire branch. The row continues. |
| Name: Dave Small | Name: Dave Small |
| Position: Councillor | Position: Councillor |
| Alleged offence: Sexist, racist, homophobic comments | Alleged offence: Sexist, racist, homophobic comments |
| Date of suspension: 27 May 2014 | Date of suspension: 27 May 2014 |
| Resolved? Five days after becoming a Redditch Borough councillor, Mr Small was suspended after he was allegedly caught tweeting about “poofs and dykes”, “perverts” and “Pakis” prior to his election. | Resolved? Five days after becoming a Redditch Borough councillor, Mr Small was suspended after he was allegedly caught tweeting about “poofs and dykes”, “perverts” and “Pakis” prior to his election. |
| Name: David Silvester | Name: David Silvester |
| Position: Henley-on-Thames councillor | Position: Henley-on-Thames councillor |
| Alleged offence: Homophobic comments | Alleged offence: Homophobic comments |
| Date of suspension: 19 January 2014 | Date of suspension: 19 January 2014 |
| Resolved? Blamed flooding on gay people in an interview peppered with homophobic remarks claiming homosexuality was a “spiritual disease” that can be healed. | Resolved? Blamed flooding on gay people in an interview peppered with homophobic remarks claiming homosexuality was a “spiritual disease” that can be healed. |
| Name: Robert Ray | Name: Robert Ray |
| Position: Chairman of Thurrock Branch | Position: Chairman of Thurrock Branch |
| Alleged offence: Drink Driving | Alleged offence: Drink Driving |
| Date of suspension: 13 February 2015 | Date of suspension: 13 February 2015 |
| Resolved? Mr Ray was caught drink driving after a session with Nigel Farage at a party fundraiser. He stood down as Chairman and is suspended from party activity while facing disciplinary proceedings. | Resolved? Mr Ray was caught drink driving after a session with Nigel Farage at a party fundraiser. He stood down as Chairman and is suspended from party activity while facing disciplinary proceedings. |
| Name: Lynton Yates | Name: Lynton Yates |
| Position: PPC | Position: PPC |
| Alleged offence: Inflammatory comments | Alleged offence: Inflammatory comments |
| Date of suspension: January 2015 | Date of suspension: January 2015 |
| Resolved? The suspension was lifted last month following comments made by the Charnwood parliamentary candidate that benefit claimants should be banned from driving. “These people really could catch the bus,” he said. | Resolved? The suspension was lifted last month following comments made by the Charnwood parliamentary candidate that benefit claimants should be banned from driving. “These people really could catch the bus,” he said. |
| Name: James Moyies | Name: James Moyies |
| Position: Councillor | Position: Councillor |
| Alleged offence: Bringing Ukip into disrepute | Alleged offence: Bringing Ukip into disrepute |
| Date of suspension: January 2015 | Date of suspension: January 2015 |
| Resolved? The Ukip group leader on Southend council was expelled by the party last month after he and four colleagues voted to remove Ukip’s Westminster candidate from their council group. | Resolved? The Ukip group leader on Southend council was expelled by the party last month after he and four colleagues voted to remove Ukip’s Westminster candidate from their council group. |
| Name: Godfrey Bloom | Name: Godfrey Bloom |
| Former Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom withdrew from the party after striking a journalist and calling women ‘sluts’ Position: MEP | Former Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom withdrew from the party after striking a journalist and calling women ‘sluts’ Position: MEP |
| Alleged offence: Sexist comments | Alleged offence: Sexist comments |
| Date of suspension: 20 September 2013 | Date of suspension: 20 September 2013 |
| Resolved? Mr Bloom said women “didn’t clean behind the fridge enough” at a party conference meeting then said the room was “full of sluts” after female activists said they were too busy to do so. The ‘colourful’ MEP then hit journalist Michael Crick over the head with a conference programme in a row about racism. Mr Bloom quit the party a week later and stood as an independent MEP until leaving Brussels in July 2014. | Resolved? Mr Bloom said women “didn’t clean behind the fridge enough” at a party conference meeting then said the room was “full of sluts” after female activists said they were too busy to do so. The ‘colourful’ MEP then hit journalist Michael Crick over the head with a conference programme in a row about racism. Mr Bloom quit the party a week later and stood as an independent MEP until leaving Brussels in July 2014. |
| Name: Chris Pain | Name: Chris Pain |
| Position: Lincolnshire county council party group leader | Position: Lincolnshire county council party group leader |
| Alleged offence: Racist comments | Alleged offence: Racist comments |
| Date of suspension: September 2013 | Date of suspension: September 2013 |
| Resolved? Mr Pain’s Facebook page carried racist comments but claimed his Facebook account had been hacked and cloned calling the comments “sick”. Police investigated but took no further action. Mr Pain was expelled from Ukip in a separate internal controversy and took four colleagues with him. He will represent ‘Independence from Europe’ in Boston and Skegness in May’s general election. | Resolved? Mr Pain’s Facebook page carried racist comments but claimed his Facebook account had been hacked and cloned calling the comments “sick”. Police investigated but took no further action. Mr Pain was expelled from Ukip in a separate internal controversy and took four colleagues with him. He will represent ‘Independence from Europe’ in Boston and Skegness in May’s general election. |
| Name: Kerry Smith | Name: Kerry Smith |
| Kerry Smith resigned as would-be MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock after it emerged he had mocked gay party members as “disgusting poofters”, joked about shooting people from Chigwell in a “peasant hunt” and referred to someone with a Chinese name as a “Chinky bird” Position: PPC | Kerry Smith resigned as would-be MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock after it emerged he had mocked gay party members as “disgusting poofters”, joked about shooting people from Chigwell in a “peasant hunt” and referred to someone with a Chinese name as a “Chinky bird” Position: PPC |
| Alleged offence: Homophobic remarks | Alleged offence: Homophobic remarks |
| Date of suspension: December 2014 | Date of suspension: December 2014 |
| Resolved? Mr Smith stood down as South Basildon and East Thurrock’s candidate after apologising for offensive remarks he made in a recorded phone call. The party said he left by “mutual consent”. | Resolved? Mr Smith stood down as South Basildon and East Thurrock’s candidate after apologising for offensive remarks he made in a recorded phone call. The party said he left by “mutual consent”. |
| Name: Matthew Ellery | Name: Matthew Ellery |
| Position: Councillor | Position: Councillor |
| Alleged offence: Sexist comments | Alleged offence: Sexist comments |
| Date of suspension: May 2014 | Date of suspension: May 2014 |
| Resolved? The 23-year-old Basingstoke councillor was temporarily suspended after he was found to have called local women “pug ugly” while campaigning for his seat. He was arrested on suspicion of theft from his dad’s antique shop last week and is bailed until May – he quit the party this month. | Resolved? The 23-year-old Basingstoke councillor was temporarily suspended after he was found to have called local women “pug ugly” while campaigning for his seat. He was arrested on suspicion of theft from his dad’s antique shop last week and is bailed until May – he quit the party this month. |
| Name: Rozanne Duncan | Name: Rozanne Duncan |
| Ex-Ukip councillor Rozanne Duncan in the BBC documentary 'Meet the Ukippers' Position: Councillor | Ex-Ukip councillor Rozanne Duncan in the BBC documentary 'Meet the Ukippers' Position: Councillor |
| Alleged offence: Racist comments | Alleged offence: Racist comments |
| Date of suspension: December 2014 | Date of suspension: December 2014 |
| Resolved? Ms Duncan, 68, was expelled last month told a BBC documentary that she had a problem with black people because there was “something about their faces”. | Resolved? Ms Duncan, 68, was expelled last month told a BBC documentary that she had a problem with black people because there was “something about their faces”. |
| Name: Matthew Smith | Name: Matthew Smith |
| Matthew Smith was one of three men standing trial at Norwich Crown Court the alleged electoral fraud (PA) Position: PPC | Matthew Smith was one of three men standing trial at Norwich Crown Court the alleged electoral fraud (PA) Position: PPC |
| Alleged offence: Electoral fraud | Alleged offence: Electoral fraud |
| Date of suspension: 5 January 2015 | Date of suspension: 5 January 2015 |
| Resolved? The 27-year-old Norfolk councillor was suspended ahead of a court appearance over alleged electoral fraud. He faces a retrial in June. | Resolved? The 27-year-old Norfolk councillor was suspended ahead of a court appearance over alleged electoral fraud. He faces a retrial in June. |
| Name: Andre Lampitt | Name: Andre Lampitt |
| Position: Member | Position: Member |
| Alleged offence: Racist views | Alleged offence: Racist views |
| Date of suspension: April 2014 | Date of suspension: April 2014 |
| Resolved? The Zimbabwean decorator and star of Ukip’s 2014 election broadcast complaining about being undercut by “lads from Eastern Europe” was expelled after a number of “extreme racist views” were found on his Twitter account. | Resolved? The Zimbabwean decorator and star of Ukip’s 2014 election broadcast complaining about being undercut by “lads from Eastern Europe” was expelled after a number of “extreme racist views” were found on his Twitter account. |
| Name: Olly Neville | Name: Olly Neville |
| Olly Neville who was appointed as chairman of Young Independence at the end of last year Position: Chair of Young Independence | Olly Neville who was appointed as chairman of Young Independence at the end of last year Position: Chair of Young Independence |
| Alleged offence: Gay marriage row | Alleged offence: Gay marriage row |
| Date of suspension: 9 January 2013 | Date of suspension: 9 January 2013 |
| Resolved? Claimed he was sacked as youth leader after defending gay marriage on Twitter as well as colliding with Ukip leaders over range of party policies. | Resolved? Claimed he was sacked as youth leader after defending gay marriage on Twitter as well as colliding with Ukip leaders over range of party policies. |
| Name: Harry Perry | Name: Harry Perry |
| Position: Member, prospective councillor | Position: Member, prospective councillor |
| Alleged offence: Offensive comments | Alleged offence: Offensive comments |
| Date of suspension: 3 May 2014 | Date of suspension: 3 May 2014 |
| Resolved? Booted out after allegedly describing David Cameron as a “gay-loving nutcase” and Muslims as “devil kids” on Twitter. | Resolved? Booted out after allegedly describing David Cameron as a “gay-loving nutcase” and Muslims as “devil kids” on Twitter. |