Ukip civil war: who is attacking who?

Patrick O’Flynn

The Ukip campaign chief fired the first volley, describing advisers around Nigel Farage as “poisonous influences which have to be removed”. According to Mr O’Flynn, Mr Farage had changed from a “cheeful, ebullient, cheeky, daring” politician into a “snarling, think-skinned, aggressive” man who was making Ukip look like a “personality cult.”

Mr O’Flynn told Sky News Mr Farage had “unfortunatley fallen [under the influence of] a couple of people in his inner circle who are wrong ‘uns.”

The 'wrong 'uns'

Raheem Kassam
Nigel Farage's closest and most senior adviser Raheem Kassam who was one of the few people to have the Ukip leader's ear throughout the campaign. A former managing editor of the rightwing news website Breitbart and a member of a series of right-wing think tanks and organisations, he was hired by Farage last year. A man who favours 'shock and awe' tactics he was personally thanked by Farage and is almost certainly one of the wrong 'uns Mr O'Flynn was talking about. Ukip have just announced that they are not renewing his contract. 

Matthew Richardson
Ukip party secretary Richardson offered his resignation earlier today after O'Flynn's stunning criticisms. As one of the aides known to be part of Farage's inner sanctum he is a contributer to what Mr O'Flynn calls the "Tea Party tendancy" in the party. Like Kassam he was a member of the Young Briton's Foundation - a training ground for future right wing politicians. 

Chris Bruni-Lowe
The Ukip resident data expert and straight-talking South Londoner who defected to the party from the Conservatives with Douglas Carswell. The man behind the effective by-election campaign in Clacton, he was at Mr Farage's side throughout the election. He has been quiet today and so far there has been no news of a resignation or an end of contract from Ukip office, so he may yet be spared from the bloodbath.

With the briefing war escalating, the Spectator quoted a “source close to the Ukip leader” suggesting that “Mr O’Flynn has had ‘personal problems and this may be the manifestation of them’.”

However, within hours blogger Guido Fawkes was reporting that Ukip Party Secretary Matt Richardson had offered his resignation, while the Telegraph reported that Nigel Farage’s chief of staff, Raheem Kassam, had left the party.

Mr Kassam tweeted “What a lovely start to my holiday!”

Nigel Farage

The Ukip leader famously resigned – as promised – following his failure to take Thanet South seat for his party, and then promptly un-resigned when the party refused to allow him to step down.

His deputy leader Paul Nuttall spoke up for him, saying “Ukip have the best communicator in British politics leading this party”.

.@paulnuttallukip: “UKIP have best communicator in British politics leading party who will play a vital role during the referendum campaign”

— UKIP (@UKIP) May 14, 2015

When asked if Ukip was in turmoil, Mr Farage said “I don’t think so”.

Mr Farage is due to appear on BBC’s Question Time on Thursday night.

Stuart Wheeler

The former Ukip Treasurer told Channel 4 News that he thought Nigel Farage should now resign, adding that Ukip’s only MP, Douglas Carswell, would be the “obvious” person to succeed him.

Mr Wheeler, a spread betting tycoon who once donated £5m to the Conservative party, gave Ukip a massive boost in 2009 by giving the party his backing and £100,000 after criticising David Cameron’s stance towards the EU. He went on to become Treasurer in 2011.

Douglas Carswell

Once a Tory MP, Mr Carswell retained his Clacton seat at the general election, becoming the only Ukip MP in the current parliament. A day after the poll, following Nigel Farage’s “resignation”, he said Mr Farage was “a heroic and inspirational figure” and ruled out becoming party leader.

Mr Carswell then got into a row with party members for declining to employ a phalanx of aides in his parliamentary office in order to make the most of “Short” money made available to support minor parties.

Arron Banks

Ukip donor Arron Banks has also waded into the fray, telling the New Statesman that Douglas Carswell, Patrick O’Flynn, and Suzanne Evans – who wrote Ukip’s manifesto – should resign.

“Everyone who’s been involved with it should go” said Mr Banks, adding “It’s not very edifying and I don’t believe these people should have our support. There’s a proper way to do thinkgs and we don’t do things this way.”

Pulling no punches, Mr Banks said Mr Carswell thought of himself as “God’s appointed representative” and Mr O’Flynn was a “jumped up little bloke”.

However, he conceded that former Ukip adviser Raheem Kassam was prone to getting “a little bit overheated or overexcitable.”