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Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson expelled from party Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson expelled from party
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Ukip has expelled MEP Janice Atkinson,after her chief of staff was filmed apparently asking for an inflated invoice to claim on European expenses. The Ukip MEP Janice Atkinson – and her senior aide Christine Hewitt – have been expelled from the party for bringing it into disrepute over claims about inflated expenses.
The party's disciplinary panel, which set out determine whether Ms Atkinson will be dropped as parliamentary candidate for Folkestone & Hythe, kicked her out this evening. News of her expulsion broke on Monday night following police investigations after Ms Atkinson’s chief of staff, Ms Hewitt, was secretly recorded appearing to ask the manager of a restaurant in Margate to more than treble the £950 cost of a meal before Ukip’s spring conference. The party later suspended the politician, and its leader Nigel Farage said the claims “couldn’t look worse”.
Her assistant Christine Hewitt was also dismissed. A statement from the party said: "Janice Atkinson MEP and Christine Hewitt (assistant to Janice Atkinson) have been found to have brought the party into disrepute.”
"Janice Atkinson MEP and Christine Hewitt (assistant to Janice Atkinson) have been found to have brought the party into disrepute," a party spokesman said. 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.
"As a result they have been expelled from UK Independence Party. They have 14 days to appeal," he added. The 52-year-old, credited as the author of Ukip’s welfare policies, was 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."
In a statement seen by ITV, MEP Janice Atkinson said she is "deeply disappointed" by Ukip's decision to expel her and insists she "fully" intends to appeal. Months before that incident, she was filmed swearing at a group of activists in Kent by holding her middle finger up. And last month Ms Atkinson said she would scrap the role of Equalities Minister dedicated to policies regarding women, ethnic minority and LGBT issues.
"I was elected to represent the constituents of the south-east of England and I will continue to work tirelessly on their behalf and for the best interests of our country," she said. Ms Atkinson said last night: “I am deeply disappointed by today’s decision and fully intend to appeal. I was elected to represent the constituents of the south-east of England and I will continue to work tirelessly on their behalf and for the best interests of our country.”
Additional reporting by PA