Farage ‘upset’ with Ukip leader over backing for Tommy Robinson

GERARD BATTEN, the Ukip leader, said he would approve of membership for Tommy Robinson, the English Defence League founder, as a row with Nigel Farage worsened over the direction of the party.

Mr Batten said Mr Robinson would not be admitted to Ukip “in the near future” because it would require changes to the party’s rules, but he insisted the controversial figure was not “farright” and had his backing.

Mr Farage said he was “really upset” over the suggestion Mr Robinson could be allowed to join Ukip as he accused Mr Batten of marginalising the party.

Mr Batten then warned Mr Farage to be “careful about criticising me” as he pointed to the former Ukip leader’s own connections with divisive characters.

It came as Mr Batten told the party’s annual conference in Birmingham that Ukip was ready to wreak “havoc” at a snap general election by targeting seats held by Remain-backing MPS.

He warned Europhiles that Ukip was “going to hit you hard” as he said: “We are coming for you.”

Mr Batten used his conference speech to outline his desire to turn Ukip into a “populist” party as he committed to tough policies on immigration and protecting free speech.

But his address risked being overshadowed by the row with Mr Farage.

Speaking on the eve of the conference, Mr Farage said he was “completely opposed” to allowing Mr Robinson to join the party.

He said: “I wrote very explicitly into the rules of the party when I first became leader: we did not want anybody in the party that had taints with organisations we deemed to be on the farright of British politics. I couldn’t have been clearer. It really upsets me to see the fact this debate is even taking place.”

Mr Farage added: “[Ukip is] in danger now unless it changes direction very, very quickly, of total and utter marginalisation.”

Mr Farage said Mr Batten should be careful “what company he keeps” after the Ukip leader attended a recent demonstration by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance. Mr Batten insisted “it was not an anti-muslim rally, it was a rally for justice for women and children victims of sexual abuse” as he hit back against Mr Farage.

He told Sky News: “Nigel is friends with Donald Trump, who a lot of people like to call names. Nigel has gone to speak on platforms with Alternative fur Deutschland, who a lot of people don’t like and call names.

“He is entitled to do that, because they are democratic parties, and I am entitled to speak at rallies organised by people who believe in democracy.

“I think maybe he should be a little bit more careful about criticising me, because he has done similar things.”

Mr Batten said admitting Mr Robinson would be a “matter for the party”.

He said: “That’s something I would personally approve of, but it’s a matter for the party, it’s their decision, not mine... I don’t happen to think that Tommy Robinson is far-right.”

Mr Batten admitted the party was not currently an electoral threat but he said it could still make its presence felt.

He said: “Our current national polling puts us on about 7 per cent. You cannot win a seat in Westminster on 7 per cent but you can ensure that others lose their seats.

“If there were a snap election in October we could cause havoc in marginal seats on 7 per cent.”