Suzanne Evans has announced she is quitting Ukip in a fiery statement claiming the party is “becoming a successor to the British National Party”.
The former leadership candidate said she feels as though she has “no option” but to leave the party because she is “in disgust at the radical change in Ukip’s direction”.
In an impassioned post, Ms Evans hit out at the party’s leader, Gerard Batten, and the decision to appoint former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson as an adviser.
She wrote: “The NEC and Ukip MEPs might be willing to turn a blind eye to the obvious attempts by Gerard and Tommy Robinson to orchestrate a ‘Momentum-style’ takeover of Ukip, but I am not.
“Having planned to simply let my membership lapse in March, when it is due for renewal, I have today cancelled it instead.
“I joined Ukip because it was a Brexit party, and because I wanted a referendum on our EU membership.
“I would never have joined Ukip as it stands today, obsessed as it is with becoming a successor to the BNP and the EDL, and putting an increasingly hostile and vicious focus on attacking the Muslim community en masse.
“I am very proud of my work with Ukip in the past, and all I have previously helped the party achieve. I have no regrets on that front whatsoever.
“However, the time has most definitely come to completely sever my connection to Ukip because, quite simply, it is no longer the party I joined, and it is not now one I want any part of.”
Ms Evans added she will continue to campaign for the UK to leave the EU.
The 53-year-old becomes the latest person to leave the party, following on from MEP Patrick O’Flynn's high-profile departure.
The politician, who has represented the party in Europe since 2014, left amid Mr Batten’s “growing fixation” with Mr Robinson.
He had previously supported a ban on former BNP and EDL members joining the party including Mr Robinson.
Last week, Mr Robinson was appointed as an adviser to Mr Batten.
The controversial activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is set to advise Mr Batten on rape gangs and prison reform.
Defending his appointment, Mr Batten said: “A lot of people respect him.”
