Ukip leader Batten denies taking party to far right
UKIP leader Gerard Batten has denied taking the party to the far right, after Nigel Farage warned it faces “total and utter marginalisation” if it moves to the extremes of politics.
As the Eurosceptic party’s annual conference kicked off in Birmingham, Mr Farage said he was “really upset” by the prospect of figures such as English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson being admitted into Ukip.
But Mr Batten hit back, saying his predecessor should be “a little bit more careful about criticising me” when he had himself shared platforms with right-wing German party Alternative fur Deutschland.
The Ukip leader confirmed that he would approve of party membership for Mr Robinson, and said he stood by his descriptions of Islam as a “death cult” which sanctioned the use of sex slaves.
He defended his appearance at a recent demonstration by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance, insisting “it was not an anti-Muslim rally, it was a rally for justice for women and children victims of sexual abuse”.
Following the rally, Mr Farage said Mr Batten should be careful “what company he keeps”, and on Thursday the former Ukip leader told the Press Association Ukip was “in danger now, unless it changes direction very, very quickly, of total and utter marginalisation”.
But Mr Batten told Sky News: “Nigel has gone to speak on platforms with Alternative fur Deutschland, who a lot of people don’t like and call names.
“I think maybe he should be a little bit more careful about criticising me, because he has done similar things.”