Nuttall resigns from UKIP

NORTH west MEP Paul Nuttall has resigned from UKIP – the party he used to lead – citing its association with Tommy Robinson as the reason.

He says he has left in response to the new chief Gerard Batten’s decision to appoint the English Defence League founder as an adviser. Nigel Farage, another UKIP ex-leader, quit the party earlier this week.

Mr Nuttall said it was a ‘catastrophic error’ to put Tommy Robinson ‘front and centre’ while Brexit is still being played out. He said he fears the decision will appal moderate Brexit voters and be detrimental to the process of leaving the EU.

It comes three days after former leader Nigel Farage quit the party, saying he ‘did not recognise’ the party any more and it was ‘turning a blind eye’ to extremist politics.

Mr Nuttall said he resigned, “with an immense amount of reluctance and regret, as I have worked tirelessly for the party for the past 14 years.”