Ukip’s Batten sidesteps vote of no confidence

Ukip’s leader has avoided a vote of no confidence after he was backed by the party’s national executive.

Gerard Batten had sparked internal dissent over his decision to appoint Tommy Robinson, the far-right activist, as an adviser.

An urgent meeting of Ukip’s national executive yesterday to discuss the issue “voted overwhelmingly against a motion of no confidence” in the leader, a Ukip tweet said.

A later party statement said the national executive “does not endorse the appointment of Tommy Robinson in any advisory role”, adding that he remained banned from joining Ukip.