Steven Woolfe’s application to succeed Nigel Farage as leader of Ukip could be declared void after he submitted his paperwork 17 minutes late due to a “technical” issue.
A spokesman for Mr Woolfe, who is also an MEP and Ukip's migration policy chief, said a situation with the party’s system had held up the application process ahead of the Sunday noon deadline but they insisted he remains in the contest. The party, however, is yet to confirm whether he is still in the running.
"However, due to technical problems on the party system, it did not successfully go through until 12.17pm. Mr Woolfe was speaking to party officials responsible for handling the application process throughout this time and right up to the deadline,” the spokesperson said.
"He informed them that he was having technical problems. These problems were resolved and the paperwork submitted," the spokesman added.
The comments came following speculation on social media that Mr Woolfe was no longer in the race due to missing the deadline. If the “technical” issue is resolved, the party’s migration policy chief will be the favourite to succeed Mr Farage – but councillor Lisa Duffy and MEPs Bill Etheridge and Jonathan Arnott have also announced their intentions to run.
Huntingdonshire councillor Ms Duffy has pledged to heal factional fighting in the party. Despite its relatively small size, Ukip is deeply split between friends and foes of Mr Farage. The outgoing leader has had a public falling out with Ukip’s only MP, Douglas Carswell, who announced: "I'm totally neutral in Ukip leadership contest – and indeed rows. Disinterested and possibly uninterested."
Mr Farage announced he was quitting after the narrow Leave victory in the EU referendum, saying: “I want my life back, and it begins right now.” The candidate list will be announced on Tuesday after a vetting procedure is carried out by Ukip top brass.
