UKIP officials quit in Hillsborough row

Two UKIP officials have resigned from the party, claiming leader Paul Nuttall and donor Arron Banks showed “crass insensitivity” about the Hillsborough disaster. Mr Nuttall said last week he was “sorry” over false claims that he had lost close friends in the 1989 tragedy. Mr Banks later tweeted he was “sick to death” hearing about Hillsborough. Liverpool and Merseyside branch chairs Stuart Monkham and Adam Heatherington called the actions “unprofessional”. Ninety-six fans died after the crush at the FA Cup semi final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground. In a radio interview last week, Mr Nuttall said he knew people who died in the disaster but he was “appalled” his website had given the impression that he was close to any of the victims He said he did not check press releases posted by an aide in 2011 and 2012. Relatives of Hillsborough victims accused the MEP of “insensitivity”. In a statement, Mr Monkham said: “Although the timing of our resignations is unfortunate in light of upcoming elections, both Adam and I wish to make it clear, where the painful subject of Hillsborough is concerned, with closure not yet in sight, this unprofessional approach and crass insensitivity from high profile people closely within and without UKIP is upsetting and intolerable.” He said they had been “affected both personally and professionally by words that were not said in our name”. “With this in mind, we wish to apologise to the people of Liverpool and the Hillsborough families for any offence caused and have done what we consider to be the only honourable thing we could do which was to resign and disassociate ourselves from UKIP.” He added that he “felt that supporting a libertarian party was the right thing to do in order to effect change within the political system in this country”. “Unfortunately that dream has been shattered and the potential of UKIP has been squandered by people who have demonstrated they are not fit to lead at present.” The BBC’s assistant political editor Norman Smith said UKIP officials in Merseyside are expecting further resignations in protest at Mr Nuttall’s handling of the Hillsborough controversy. Mr Nuttall, who is an MEP for northwest England, is a candidate in the Stoke Central by-election which is being held on Thursday.