‘Cult’ warning: UKIP rift opens with attack on Nigel Farage
May 14, 2015, 7:49 AM
FILE - In this Tuesday, April 28, 2015 file photo, Nigel Farage leader of Britain's United Kingdom Independence Party delivers a speech in Hartlepool, England. The UK Independence Party says the resignation of Nigel Farage as party leader has been rejected and he remains in the post. The announcement Monday, May 11, 2015 came three days after Farage said he was stepping down following his failure to win a seat in Parliament. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)
(AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)
LONDON (AP) — All is not well in the anti-immigrant UK Independence Party headed by Nigel Farage, whose leadership was questioned Thursday after an election loss kept him out of the British Parliament.
Farage had resigned as party leader after failing to win a seat in the House of Commons last week, but took the reins again a few days later when party executives rejected his resignation.
But UKIP’s economic spokesman warned Thursday that Farage risks turning the party into a personality cult and an “absolute monarchy.” Patrick O’Flynn, who is also a UKIP member of the European Parliament, said Farage has become a “snarling, thin-skinned, aggressive” man in recent months. He told the Times newspaper that Farage must adopt a much more consultative style.
The party infighting escalated further Thursday when a major UKIP donor, Stuart Wheeler, told BBC Radio that he would like to see Farage step down as party leader. The former party treasurer said UKIP needs a less aggressive leader to better win support from centrist voters.
The controversial right-wing party won about 13 percent of the popular vote in Britain last week but earned just one seat in the House of Commons. It wants Britain to withdraw from the 28-nation European Union and take steps to block immigrants, especially legal immigrants from other EU nations, from coming to Britain to live and work.
Its one successful candidate, Douglas Carswell, is also clashing with Farage over whether he should claim 650,000 pounds ($1 million) per year of public financing to which he is entitled to help pay for additional staff.
Carswell has said it would be inappropriate to take the money, which is more than other legislators receive, due to UKIP’s relatively high percentage of the popular vote in comparison to its sole seat in Parliament.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
